Sally VenHorst Obituary

Sally A. VenHorst, 92, of Bettendorf, Iowa, died surrounded by family on July 20, 2025

A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 23, at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, Bettendorf, with visitation one hour prior to services. Memorials may be made to the Sisters of Humility, or the St. Joan of Arc Foundation.

Sally was born on April 8, 1933 to her parents, Harold and Nettie (Quezinski) O’Neil in Racine, Wisconsin. She spent her childhood there with her parents, brothers Tom and Tim, and various grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. She graduated from Horlick High School in 1951 and went to work immediately for J. I. Case Company as a secretary, where she met a handsome young salesman named Bernard “Bernie” Hull. They fell in love, and married on January 16, 1954.

Since Bernie spent his career primarily in sales, they were destined to move often, being transferred to new territories every couple years, mostly in the Midwest. Sally and Bernie raised 2 sons and a daughter who were active in various sports, fine arts, scouting and other community activities. No matter where they lived, Sally became involved and active in their Catholic Church and parish schools, the Home & School Associations, the Women’s Circle groups, and various service organizations. Sally also loved playing bridge, and belonged to multiple bridge clubs at any given time.

Sally lost Bernie to cancer in 1993. Alone for the first time at the age of 60, she decided to embark on a new career, and studied to become a licensed real estate agent. She thrived in that role, and enjoyed her later in life career immensely. While attending a widowed Catholics support group, she met the next love of her life, Herman VenHorst. She and Herman loved each other dearly and took amazing care of each other until Herman passed away in 2022. They loved dancing, traveling and spending time with our growing expanded family.

As a wife, as a mother, a nana, or a Gigi (great-grandmother), Sally knocked them all out of the park. She would always ask what she did to deserve such great people in her life. Those who had been loved and taken care of by Sally just naturally looked for opportunities to do for her. She was never short on advice, never without an opinion, and always said exactly what she thought. She never stopped looking for ways she could step in and help her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, even when she was the one who needed the help.

Sally was preceded in death by her parents, her brother and sister-in-law Tom and Phyllis O’Neil, her husband Bernard, her infant son Michael, and her husband Herman. She is survived by her brother Tim (Carol) O’Neil of Lakeland, FL, her sons Thomas (Stephanie) Hull of Navarre, FL and Scott (Kat) Hull of Lake Placid, FL, her daughter Barbara (Brian) Nagle of Davenport, IA, 10 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Sally’s family is deeply grateful to the staff at both Quartet Memory Care in Bettendorf, IA and Heartland Hospice for the compassionate and loving care they provided during the last chapter of her life.

Condolences may be shared at CremationQC.com.