Helen Watkins Zelinsky 1898-1920

ZELINSKY, WATKINS, WILSON, GEESEMAN

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 8/15/2012 at 21:55:09

(Terril Tribune)
Following is the obituary of Mrs. Alfred Zelinsky as taken from the Terril Tribune.

“Death has made another of its unwelcome visits to our community. Relatives and the modern medical science did all they could to ward off this visit, but of no avail. This time he has taken the beautiful wife of Alfred E. Zelinsky. As a child she was known as Helen Watkins, being the daughter of Mrs. Ida Watkins. She was born in Adair county, Iowa, September 15, 1898 [per cemetery record, 1899], and died near Terril, Iowa, February 17, 1920, being 21 years, 5 months and 2 days of age at the time of her death.

She was united in marriage to Mr. Alfred E. Zelinsky on May 26, 1917, after which they came to Emmet county and have lived northeast of Terril most of the time since. Two children were born to this union. The first one on April 15, 1918, did not live but a few days. The second one is a little girl born February 10, 1920, and will never know the loving care of a mother.

Besides her husband and baby, Mrs. Zelinsky leaves her mother, Mrs. Ida Watkins, two sisters and three brothers. They are Maude Wilson of Greenfield, Iowa; Mrs. Hazel Geeseman of Menlo, Iowa; Fred Morgan of Valley Junction; Shirley Morgan of South Omaha; and Walter Watkins, also of South Omaha.

When Helen was about 14 years of age she joined the Methodist Episcopal church at Stuart, Iowa.

During the short time that Mrs. Zelinsky has lived in this community she has made a great many friends. For to know her was to be her friend. I am sorry that it was not my good fortune to know her better. But this I know and that she is going to a God and Heavenly Father who knew and loved her. He is a just God and will make as large a place as possible for her.

The funeral services were held from the home Thursday afternoon of last week, being conducted by Rev. A.A. Howe, and the body placed to rest in the Estherville cemetery.

The bereaved husband and relatives have the sympathy of all in their bereavement. (Spirit Lake Beacon, Spirit Lake, IA, March 4, 1920)