ANDERSEN, Helen 1915-2011

ANDERSEN, DROESE, HICKSON

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 3/26/2015 at 07:08:17

Helen J. Andersen, 95, of Reinbeck, Iowa, died Wednesday, May 18, 2011, at Parkview Manor in Reinbeck, Iowa while under the care of Cedar Valley Hospice. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, May 23, 2011, at United Methodist Church, Reinbeck Iowa, with Pastor Terry Plocher officiating. Burial will follow at the Reinbeck Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 22, 2011, French Hand Funeral Home in Reinbeck. Memorials may be directed to The United Methodist Church in Reinbeck or to the family for charities of their choice in Helen's name.

Helen Janet Droese was born October 11, 1915, the daughter of Queene Magdalene (Hickson) Droese in Reinbeck. On May 18, 1935, Helen was united in marriage with Hans Peter Andersen at Reinbeck Methodist Church Parsonage in Reinbeck, Iowa . The first years of their married life they lived on a farm north of Cedar Falls, then lived a short time in Prairie du Chein, Wisconsin before returning to the Reinbeck area where they lived and worked on a Strohbehn farm one and a half miles west of town. With the advent of World War II, a move was made into Reinbeck when Hans enlisted in the navy and Helen carried on, maintaining a good and nurturing home for her children until his return.

Helen was an 82 year member of the United Methodist Church in Reinbeck, Iowa where she taught Sunday school and was very active in WSCS and as church historian. She was a co-founder of the Girl Scout program in Reinbeck. She was also very active in cub Scouts being a Den Mother and later helping with Boy Scouts. Helen enjoyed the outdoors with her garden and flowers and her genealogy research. Most of all she loved spending time with her beloved family of whom she was very proud and her circle of friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Hans Andersen in 1988, her daughters, Jean Marie Andersen at infancy, Barbara Jane Kerls in 2008, her mother, a son-in-law, Melvin Conradi, a grandson, Michael Patrick Kerls, a great-grandson, Bryan Dean Sullivan, two brothers in childhood, and one sister, Delphine Kelly.

Helen is survived by her children, James P. Andersen and his wife Kathy of Tulsa, OK, Dr. Robert L. Andersen and his wife Judith of Etowah, NC and Nancy (Conradi) Jungling and her husband Delbert of Reinbeck, Iowa; son-in-law, Michael Kerls of Waukesha, WI; 11 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren.

--Abels Funeral Homes (www.abelsfuneralhomes.com)