FIRSCHING, Helen Elizabeth (HEINERLING)

FIRSCHING, HEINERLING, PAULUS, THOMAS, OIMEON, ADAMS, VAAGE, OCONNOR

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 4/1/2017 at 02:02:00

Obituary ~ Helen Elizabeth (Heinerling) Firsching
June 22, 1926 ~ December 27, 2007

The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
December 26, 2007

MASON CITY — Helen E. Firsching, 81, of 1033 19th St. S.W. and formerly of 1300 S. Taft Ave., Mason City, died Saturday (Dec. 22, 2007) at the Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City.

A memorial Mass in celebration of Helen’s life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 27, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 302 Fifth St. S.E., Mason City, with the Rev. Kenneth B. Gehling presiding. A private family inurnment will be in the Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City.

The family will greet relatives and friends one hour prior to Helen’s service on Thursday morning at the St. Joseph Catholic Church.

Those wishing to extend memorials may wish to direct them to the Helen E. Firsching Memorial Fund.

Helen Elizabeth Firsching was born June 22, 1926, at home in Nora Springs, the daughter of Herman Henry and Minnie Rose (Paulus) Heinzerling. She was the first-born child of five and attended schools in Mitchell County. Helen graduated from Rockford High School in 1944 and continued her education at Hamilton Business College in Mason City.

While attending a dance in Stacyville, Helen met her future husband, Joseph Matthew Firsching. One year later to the day on May 25, 1949, Helen and Joe were united in marriage at the Visitation Catholic Church in Stacyville.

In 1952, Helen and Joe moved to and farmed land south of Mason City. They relocated to Taopi, Minn., and continued farming from 1975 until 1985, then chose to move back to Mason City, where they have since resided.

Many in the area will recall Helen’s employments in the offices of Decker Meat Packing and Hormel Meat Packing in Austin, Minn., from 1945 until 1949, the St. Joseph School Cafeteria from 1960 until 1970 and Kiefer Floral Shop from 1972 until 1975.

Helen’s greatest joy was that of a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and homemaker! She took immense pride in actively assisting with the day-to-day farming operation she shared with Joe and attending the busy activities of her children.

Helen was a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church, the St. Theresa Circle and T.O.P.S. No. 1343. Some of her leisure activities and interests included traveling with Joe and wintering with him in Lake Havasu, Ariz., for 12 years following their retirements, embroidery, quilting, playing all types of cards and games of chance at casinos, collecting plates and cups from her places of travel and in Helen’s earlier years, camping, dancing and bowling on various leagues.

Helen will be dearly cherished in the hearts of all who have shared in her life.

She is survived by her husband, Joseph M. Firsching of Mason City; her children and their families: John and Sandi Firsching of Webster City and their children, Jeff Firsching, Bill and Jodeen Firsching (and sons, Isaac and Luke) and Chad Firsching; Dennis and Susan Firsching of Mason City and their children, Matt and Jackie Firsching (and son Dylan); Mary and Leon Thomas of Mason City and their children, Dylan Thomas, Derek Thomas and Alyssa Thomas and Jean Oimeon of Sarasota, Fla., and her children, Robin Oimeon and Michael Oimeon; her three sisters, Anna Adams of Stacyville, Betty Vaage of Mason City and Barbara J. Heinzerling of Mason City; her sister-in-law, Barbara A. Heinzerling of Mason City; her aunt, Myrtle O’Connor of Rockwell; and numerous other relatives and friends.

Preceding Helen in death are her parents, Herman and Minnie Heinzerling; her brother, Elmer Heinzerling; and her two brothers-in-law, Keith Adams and Duane Vaage.

Thoughts, condolences and stories may be e-mailed to the family on the www.fullertonfh.com Web site.

Arrangements are with Fullerton Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 123 Second St. S.E., Mason City, 641-423-8676, http://www.fullertonfh.com">www.fullertonfh.com.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2017