Vera Joanne Morgart

Vera Joanne “V.J.” Morgart, 78, a resident of Bettendorf, passed away on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at MercyOne Genesis East in Davenport.

Funeral services and a Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, Davenport, on Saturday, April 25th, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. Private burial will take place at a later date. Family will greet friends on Friday, April 24th, 2026, at Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport, from 4 until 6 p.m., with an additional visitation in the gathering space at the church on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until the start of Mass.

Vera “V.J.” Sanders was born on October 3, 1947, in Houghton, Iowa. The fifth of eight children and the eldest daughter of Paul and Rosina (Bentler) Sanders. She graduated from St. Mary’s High School in West Point, IA, and attended the University of Iowa. She met the love of her life, William “Bill” Morgart, through a work friend and was united in marriage on May 29, 1971. They shared over 40 years before his passing in 2012. She worked at Davenport Bank for several years, where, unbeknownst to her, Bill would drive through her teller lane just to see her. She also served as President of WJM Plastics, Inc., the family business that Bill started in 1977. She was a devout Catholic. In earlier years, V.J. and Bill were active members of Holy Family Parish, and the children attended Holy Family Grade School. She was currently a member of Our Lady of Victory Parish. She was a lector, eucharistic minister, and member of the choir.

V.J. was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She adored her Card Club friends, who still get together after 50 years. She loved to travel, visiting places like St. Martin, Jamaica, Innisbrook, and Europe. She also had a love for music, always rockin’ along with Spike at the Mike in the mornings or playing Barry Manilow, Neal Diamond, Beach Boys, ABBA, Roy Orbison, or Kenny G around the house. She also loved flowers, particularly her favorite were roses, which Bill and the kids would get her for Mother’s Day for many years. She was a dedicated sports fan, cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes and St. Louis Cardinals. V.J. and Bill were generous supporters of Assumption High School, where the kids attended and could be found at Assumption Knights baseball, basketball, soccer, football, and wrestling events both at home and on the road. She enjoyed playing softball and volleyball and was an avid bowler, who for many years bowled in three different leagues and traveled to nationals. She was a collector of many things, including Isabel Blooms, Precious Moments, and Longaberger Baskets. VJ cared deeply for her Shelties - Shelby, Chelsea, and Sara. Above all else, she especially loved being a grandmother and said that being a Nana was one of her life’s greatest rewards. She was very family-centered, always remembering to send cards on birthdays and anniversaries to her many family members.

Those left to cherish her memory include her children, Jay (Rodell) Morgart, Jill (Andrew) Kraut, and Joel (Julie) Morgart; grandchildren, Raquel Hora (Carlos Gonzales), Ryan Bryant, Tyler (Ashley) Bryant, Tristan Morgart, Kailee Morgart, Amelia Morgart, Lane Morgart, Gretta Morgart, Audrey Sarra, and Gavin Sarra; great-grandchildren, Livianna, Maximus, Brayden, Elena and Ayla; brothers, Ken (Judy) Sanders, Leroy (Joyce) Sanders, Don (Becky) Sanders and Greg Sanders; sister, Pat (Tom) Brodar; sisters-in-law, Diane Sanders, Vickie Sanders, Darlene Hamelau, Rose Elsbecker, Mary (Dennis) Borton; brothers-in-law, Jerry (Gini) Morgart, and Marvin (Dolores) Morgart, along with numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; and extended family members Brynjar Sigurdsson, Iceland; Vedran Vukotic, Bosnia; Birte Thomaneck, Germany; Yvon Jadoul, Belgium and Katarina Milosevic, Serbia.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; father-in-law, John Morgart; mother-in-law Letha Morgart; daughter, Julie Sarra; granddaughter, Allyssa Bryant; brothers, Carl Sanders and Gary Sanders; brothers-in-law Vernon Morgart, Kevin Morgart, and Steve Hamelau. May they rest in peace.

Memorials may be directed to the family.