BAKKER, Helen 1920-2005

BAKKER, POWELL, GUTHRIE

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/6/2010 at 10:29:46

Helen G. Bakker, 85, of Wellsburg, Iowa, died from natural causes on Saturday, July 2, 2005, at Ellsworth Municipal Hospital in Iowa Falls, Iowa. Funeral services will be 10:30 A.M., Monday, July 11, 2005 at the First Christian Reformed church in rural Wellsburg with Pastor Tom Vos officiating. Burial will follow at the First Christian Reformed Church Cemetery, rural Wellsburg. Visitation will be Sunday, July 10, 2005, from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. at Doyen-Abels Funeral Home in Wellsburg. A memorial fund has been established.

Helen Guthrie (Powell) Bakker was born April 25, 1920, in Albia, Iowa, the daughter of Glen S. and Alta (Guthrie) Powell. She attended elementary school in Albia and graduated from Oskaloosa High School in 1938. After graduation Helen worked at Abbott Hospital for four years as a Nurse's Aide.

On September 6, 1942, Helen was united in marriage to Manley Bakker of Steamboat Rock at the Methodist church in Oskaloosa. Following their marriage, they were engaged in farming southwest of Wellsburg until retirement in 1970 at which time they moved to Wellsburg to make their home. This union was blessed with three children; a daughter Carol Lee, and two sons; Paul Allen and Jack Eugene.

Helen was an active longtime member of the First Christian Reformed Church, rural Wellsburg, being involved in choir, Queen Esther Circle, Life Group, and Women's Bible Study. She also had been a member of Timothy Sisters Society and Shiloh Homemakers. Helen's passion was singing and participated in the Grundy County Farm Bureau Women's Chorus. She also enjoyed cooking and baking. Later on she returned to the profession she loved and worked for a time at the Grundy Hospital, Eldora Hospital, and the Ackley Presbyterian Home.

A favorite of Manley and Helen's was the time spent together traveling all over the United States. Their last vacation was taken to the Holy Land in 1978, the year before Manley died. Another enjoyment of Helen's was spending time with her family. Her special joy was her grandchildren. She moved to the Hubbard Care Center in 2002.

She is survived by one daughter, Carol Krull and her husband Allen of Wellsburg, Iowa; one son Jack Bakker and his wife Emma of Hamilton, Michigan; six grandchildren, Diane Windemuller, Wayne Bakker, Cheryl Dubes, Scott Bakker, Danielle Krull, and Shane Krull; five great-grandchildren; and one sister Bonnie Vick of Denver, Colorado.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Manley on June 5, 1979; one son in infancy; one grandson in infancy; sister Iva; brother Homer Powell and his wife Martha; brother Karol Powell and his wife Genevieve; and brother-in-law J. Henry Vick.