Jill Q. Quakenbush, age 74, of Washington, Iowa, passed away Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at the Parkview Care Center in Fairfield, Iowa.

A graveside service and interment will be held at a later date at Aspen Grove Cemetery in Burlington, Iowa. Memorials have been established for the National Kidney Foundation or the American Diabetes Association. The Jones & Eden Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent for Jill's family at www.jonesfh.com

Jill was born August 21, 1950, in Burlington, Iowa, the daughter of Clifford and Mary (Galvin) Quakenbush. She graduated from Burlington High School in 1968 where she was a member of the National Honor Society. Jill attended the University of Iowa where she graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Music. She continued her education at the University of Missouri in Kansas City, receiving a Masters Degree in Music. In 2000, she returned to the University of Iowa for her second Masters Degree in American History.

Jill worked in New York City at Time Distribution Services as an Administration Manager and at American Management Association as she prepared for a business career. She also worked for Andersen Consulting as an Executive Assistant in their New York City and Chicago offices. Jill sang opera at the Kansas City Lyric Opera and at various concerts in Kansas City. She resided in Switzerland for one year and during her stay she was a member of the Zurich International Opera Studio and sang in the Zurich Opera. Jill returned to Kansas City to be a Music Teacher where she taught at Park College in Parkville, Missouri and at the University of Missouri in Kansas City. She later worked as a Floral Designer at Eicher Florist in Iowa City. Jill moved to Washington, Iowa, in 2009.

While living in New York City, Jill was a member of the St. Thomas Episcopal Church where she organized annual Christmas parties for disadvantaged children and began a group to welcome new members. Jill was also a regular attendee at the Metropolitan Opera and Carnegie Hall Performances, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parades, Fourth of July Fireworks Display and the lighting of the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center.

She enjoyed sketching, creative writing, reading and listening to classical and country western music. During her stay at Pearl Valley Rehab in Washington, she listened to classical music CD's including Beethoven, Spanish guitar, Vivaldi, Chopin and Mozart. She also listened to her opera singing tapes from the 1980's and played them for the staff and other residents. Jill attended Resident Council Meetings regularly to register suggestions and complaints to management. She became a secret pen pal to various residents and live movie and popcorn day, Bingo, Bible Study discussions and Armchair Travelogues. She attended all of these activities regularly with good friends. Jill created a Book Club to discuss books sent from the Washington Public Library. She liked to read biographies and history and enjoyed House Beautiful and Architectural Digest magazines.

She was preceded in death by her parents,; infant sister, Nancy Dee Quakenbush; and sister, Diana Quakenbush in 2009.