Dee A. Ahrens

Dee A. Ahrens, 60, of Davenport, Iowa, died Monday, September 11, 2023, at Genesis Medical Center East, Davenport, Iowa. She died peacefully after courageously battling a rare form of cancer. 

Cremation will take place at Trimble Crematory, Moline, Illinois, under the direction of Cremation Society of the Quad Cities.

Dee Ann Ahrens was born December 31, 1962, in Davenport, Iowa, the daughter of Harold and Helen (Blocker) Ahrens. She was a “famous” New Years Eve baby, giving her dad a tax break after only 3 hours of life.   

Dee grew up in the west end of Davenport. She graduated from West High School in 1981. Dee wore many professional hats. She was a barber, a head cafeteria staff for both the local hospital and schools, and an in-home childcare provider, after all of these jobs she found her calling to become a paraprofessional for the Children’s Village Preschools. She worked as a paraprofessional for 20+ years. Dee found so much joy in growing young minds. She was living proof of the saying “if you find a job you love, you will never work again”. 

She enjoyed yard work and home improvements projects. Dee believed before play the work must be done, even if the work was laying the 16th patio of the summer. When it was time to play though, no one else did that better. Dee believed in enjoying the spontaneous moments in life. It was truly her talent to turn ordinary events into the most fun memories. She inherited the car loving/buying gene from her father. She was an avid concert goer with a love of all music. Dee also enjoyed many summer vacations to Florida.

Above all else, Dee was passionate about her family. Motherly love as powerful as Dee’s leaves its own mark. To have been loved so deeply will give her children protection and comfort forever. After her first love, her children, she was blessed with her true purpose of being Nana. There were no 5 boys more loved then her grandboys, and she was proud to make sure the world knew it.    

Dee was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in November 2021. She never once let sickness take her light, she spent all of her time enjoying her family and bucket list adventures. 

Dee is survived by five children, Natalie Bowen, Joe Anaya, Demi Anaya, Rique (Brooke) Anaya,and Zander Bowen; {grandchildren}Zayne & Zachary Bowen(Natalie), Urijah & Percy Anaya (Rique) ; and siblings, Danny (Sue) Ahrens, David (Teresa) Ahrens, and Dennis (Lisa) Ahrens; and her beloved nephew Danny Ahrens Jr.  She was preceded in death by her parents and niece Brandi.

There will be a celebration of life held at Grace United Methodist Church, located at 2651 Telegraph Road Davenport, Iowa on September 30th at 2:00pm. Dee was never a fan of formal funerals, so please dress comfortably.

Condolences may be shared at CremationQC.com.