SKUBINNA, Helen Lois 1926-2010
SKUBINNA, GADOW, CROFT, ALBERT, WALLING, ROPES, KIEL, PARKER
Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 3/6/2011 at 16:25:34
[Waterloo Courier, Friday, September 10, 2010]
CEDAR FALLS — Helen Lois Skubinna, age 84, died Sept. 7, 2010, at Sartori Memorial Hospital, Cedar Falls. She died after a brief illness. Mrs. Skubinna was born Helen Lois Gadow, the daughter of Herman G. and Helen E. (Croft) Gadow of Maynard. She was born June 20, 1926, at Maynard. Helen was baptized at the Methodist Church, Maynard, and later confirmed at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Waterloo.
Mrs. Skubinna attended elementary school and the Maynard High School for several years. She was active on the Maynard baseball team and was employed at Raytheon Corporation Radio Division, Oelwein, until 1951.
On July 3, 1949, Helen married Leon A. Skubinna, the son of Otto H. and Mabel M. Skubinna of Oelwein. The wedding took place at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Des Moines. The happy couple then briefly honeymooned at Clear Lake before returning to Oelwein where they resided.
In 1954, Helen and Leon moved to Cedar Falls to be closer to Mr. Skubinna’s employment, he then being the purchasing agent for the Universal Hoist Company, a large grain elevator manufacturer. They had two children: Martin and Robin. The family moved to Hudson in 1964. They remained in the small community, enjoying the peaceful surroundings until 1986, when they moved back to Cedar Falls and later retired there.
Mrs. Skubinna’s hobbies included gardening, landscaping, collecting antiques, refinishing furniture and fishing. The Skubinna’s owned a cabin at Clear Lake for many years, which Helen enjoyed greatly as a retreat from the pressures of everyday life. She was known as an honest and trustworthy individual who took great care in bringing up her children and looking after her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Helen had many friends and family in the local area.
Survivors include her husband, Leon; son, Martin L. Skubinna of Washington, D.C.; daughter, Robin A. (Brian) Albert of Glenwood; three sisters, Esther Walling of Waterloo, MaryLou (John) Ropes of Mason City, and Bonnie Kiel of Clear Lake; two brothers, Herman "Gus" Gadow of Oelwein and Milo (Harriet) Gadow of Cedar Falls; three grandchildren, Rebecca A. Albert of Rochester, Minn., Brook E. (Clay) Parker of Gretna, Neb., and Luke A. (Jill) Albert of Columbia, Md.; two great-granddaughters, Mara and Layne Parker of Gretna; four nephews, Milton (Sharon) Ropes of Duluth, Minn., Lonny (Joyce) Gadow of Maynard, Doug Kiel of Fayette and John (Jane) Gadow of Cedar Falls; three nieces, Pam Kiel of Clear Lake, Jennifer (Jeff) Ridder of Aplington and Wendy Good of Cedar Rapids; as well as numerous cousins in northeast Iowa and the United States.
Preceded in death by her parents; one brother, John Gadow; and a sister, Marie Gadow.
Services will be 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11, at Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home, with burial in Greenwood Cemetery, both in Cedar Falls. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today, Sept. 10, at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to Christian Crusaders and Cedar Valley Hospice
Black Hawk Obituaries maintained by Karen De Groote.
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