Anita Marie Bailey, 80, of Davenport, IA, passed away on Friday, January 16, 2026, at MercyOne Genesis Medical Center East, Davenport, IA.

Anita Struebing was born and raised in Wichita, KS. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Wichita State University in 1967, and then attended Colorado State University to obtain her Master of Science degree. After her college work she performed speech-language services for the public schools at Butte, MT. In 1972 she returned to Kansas to provide services for the children in the Salina public schools. That year she also met her future husband, a young lieutenant who had just been stationed at McConnell AFB. George and Anita happily married in 1975. In 1976 Anita obtained her Clinical Certification in Speech Pathology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), and began working at the Institute of Logopedics in Wichita to provide support to children with neurodevelopmental conditions and challenges . Anita and George celebrated the birth of their daughter, Jennifer, in 1978. In 1982 the Air Force moved the family to Ellsworth AFB, where they lived in Rapid City, SD. Despite her worsening physical condition (she was diagnosed with HSP in 1979), she took a position at The Rehabilitation and Critical Care Hospital of the Black Hills (RCCH) in Rapid City, a specialty facility offering inpatient medical rehabilitation and long-term acute care for complex conditions, focusing on stroke recovery, traumatic injuries, and complex medical illnesses, where she provided intensive speech therapies for her patients. The family loved their stay in the Black Hills, joining and participating in a fur trade era based historical reenactment group and enjoying that association of friends as well as the beauty of the area. In 1987 the family separated from the Air Force and moved back to Wichita, where Anita supported her husband in his doctoral studies. After graduation, the family moved to the Quad Cities where George took a position of Professor at St. Ambrose University. Anita continued to support her family as a homemaker even as her physical and mental conditions worsened. George and Anita celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last year. Anita loved reading and knitting, but most of all she loved helping others and being with her family. We will miss her smile, support and love.

She is survived by her husband, George; daughter Jennifer; sister Karen, brother-in-law Paul Martin and their children Eric and Sarah; and sister-in-law Pat Bailey.

She had asked to be cremated with no visitation. Cremation will be directed by Mississippi Valley Cremation and Direct Burial, Moline, IL. A private memorial service will be scheduled next Spring in the Memorial Garden at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Davenport, IA. Please no flowers - donate to the charity of your choice.

Family and friends are invited to share memories and express condolences on her memory page at www.mvcremation.com.