PABST, Helen M. 1905-1992

PABST, SPARENBORG, GRAVES

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 1/20/2016 at 21:44:35

Helen Pabst Services Held

Helen Marie Pabst passed away Thursday, December 10, at the Grundy Care Center in Grundy Center having attained the age of 87 years, 10 months, and 11 days.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, December 15, at Bethany Presbyterian Church in Grundy Center with Rev. Calvin W. Vanderwerf officiating.

Pallbearers were Joe Graves, Marvin Freesman, Laurence Graves, Jack Bienfang, Don Luchtenburg, and Elmer Henricks.

Interment followed the service at Rose Hill Cemetery in Grundy Center.

A memorial fund has been established.

Helen was born January 29, 1905, in Grundy county the daughter of Chris and Ettina (Graves) Sparenborg. She graduated from Grundy Center High School, and then briefly attended Teacher's College in Cedar Falls. Helen taught rural school in Grundy county.

On July 8, 1926, she was united in marriage to Ralph Pabst. Helen and Ralph owned and operated the Western Auto Store in Grundy Center until retiring in the 1950's. Following retirement, they wintered in Palmetto, Florida for many years. Helen continued to winter there following Ralph's death in 1969. Her daughter LeAnn and husband Jim moved to Sarasota in 1975 from McLean, VA to be near her mother. When Helen could no longer be there, LeAnn and husband moved to Cedar Falls to be near her mother during her stay at the Grundy Care Center.

Helen was a member of the Bethany Presbyterian Church, where she served as Sunday School teacher, and in earlier years, sang in the church choir. She was a member of BPW for many years.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph in 1969; her parents; one sister, Lizetta Bakker; and one son-in-law, Mahlon Brown in 1966.

Survivors include one daughter, LeAnn and husband Jim Richards of Cedar Falls; 2 grandchildren, Sally Brown Pettibon of Sarasota, FL, Pamela Brown of Oakland, CA; 2 step-grandsons, James Richards, Jr. of Richmond, VA, and Steven Richards of Dallas, TX; and great-grandchildren.

The Engelkes-Abels Funeral Home in Grundy Center was in charge of the arrangements.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 17 December 1992, pg 3