Quaker Sarah Beane Active in Community Service and International Missions

Sarah Janet Squires Beane, 75, died on April 22, 2015. Born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, on February 2, 1940, she was the second child of Richard and Janet Harris Squires. Her early years were marked by a transcontinental upbringing, with her family residing in Gladwyn, Pennsylvania; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; and Ames, Iowa. Sarah attended Haverford Friends Elementary School, the French high school in Addis Ababa, and graduated from Westtown School in West Chester, Pennsylvania. She earned her degree in Physical Therapy from Washington University in St Louis in 1963.

Sarah’s career in physical therapy began in the Minneapolis area, where she worked at several hospitals. In 1967, she joined the American Friends Service Committee rehabilitation team in Vietnam, providing care to civilian amputees during the war. Later, she established new physical therapy departments in Ames and Manchester, Iowa. Her hobbies included singing and skiing, reflecting her diverse interests and active lifestyle.

Sarah married Daniel Beane on April 5, 1969. Their early years together were spent in Manchester, Iowa, where she developed a physical therapy department. The couple later returned to Daniel’s family farm, where Sarah was deeply involved in its management and work. Her commitment to community service extended beyond the farm, as she served on the regional board of the American Friends Service Committee and volunteered for Head Start.

Her involvement in local and regional organizations was extensive. Sarah served as a 4-H club leader, a spokesman for the American Soybean Association, and an officer for the Marshall County Porkettes. She was also active in the American Association of University Women, the OWO women’s club, and the Marshall County Farm Bureau Women’s organization. She welcomed foreign exchange students and international visitors, fostering cross-cultural connections.

Sarah was a lifelong member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and actively participated in the Gladbrook Chapel United Methodist Church. There, she served as a Sunday School pianist and teacher, and was engaged in volunteer work. Alongside her husband, she led youth mission teams to Tanzania, Kenya, Bolivia, and Belize. They also spent winters at the Friends Theological College in Kenya and the Cayo Deaf Institute in Belize, demonstrating their dedication to global service and education.

Her life exemplified a commitment to service, community, and faith. As Micah 6:8 reminds us, justice, mercy, and humble service are central to living a life of purpose. Sarah’s legacy continues through the countless lives she touched and the communities she helped build.

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