Fencl, Helen Marietta (Kostka) 1930 - 2020

FENCL, KOSTKA, VOVES, BARLOON, BAETHKE

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/22/2024 at 16:07:20

Helen Fencl, age 89, of Protivin, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, February 12, 2020, at Country Winds Manor, Patty Elwood Center in Cresco, Iowa.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Protivin, Iowa, on Wednesday, February 19, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. with Father Aaron Junge officiating. Burial will be held in Holy Trinity Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, February 18, from 4-7 p.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, and will continue at the church for one hour prior to the service on Wednesday. Hindt-Hudek Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Helen Marietta Fencl was born on December 21, 1930, to George and Abbie (Voves) Kostka. She married Joseph W. Fencl on June 12, 1950. To this union three children were born: Beverly, Kenneth and Carol. Helen attended country school where she was in charge of starting the fire each morning. She graduated from Rudolphinum High School in Protivin where she played basketball. Joe and Helen established Fencl Oil & L.P. Co. Inc. in 1951 first operating the business out of their home and then securing a building on Main Street in Protivin. Helen worked in the business as a secretary until her retirement in 1997 even though she declared when the computer came into the office she would be going out the back door. Over her lifetime she enjoyed bowling (where Fencl Oil sponsored her team), crocheting, playing cards, playing BINGO, her flower gardens, her kitties and her collection of glass baskets and Czech items. She loved to have her grandchildren and great grandchildren visit. She also truly enjoyed entertaining relatives and friends especially when they stopped in each year during the annual Czech Days celebration in August. She was also known for her poppy seed cakes that she dutifully prepared for any and all funerals in the parish. See reverse for recipe.

Helen was a member of Holy Trinity Parish in Protivin and belonged to many groups and organizations over the years including the Parish Life Society, HOCA Board (an organization that provides monies to cancer patients in need in Howard County) and was always ready and willing to donate a pan of bars to the Czech Historical Society when asked as she belonged and volunteered her time to this organization as well. She was a Legion Auxiliary member for over 60 years. Helen was fortunate to travel to the Czech Republic several times during her lifetime.

Helen is survived by her daughter Beverly and friend Pat Bingley, Kimberling City, MO, son Kenneth (Gail), Protivin, IA, and their children Kyle (Katie), Protivin, IA, Casey (Lindsay), Oswego, IL, Cody (Annie), Decorah, IA, and Maggie Mills (Chad), Waterloo, IA, and Helen’s daughter Carol Barloon (Don), Little Turkey, IA, and their children Ryan (Carrie), New Hampton, IA, Shane (Daphne), Protivin, IA, and Reece Little Turkey, IA, and friend Tereza Pribanova, Czech Republic. Great grandchildren include: Cole, Keira, Kaylee, Parker, Brooks, Eloise, Franklin, baby Fencl, Sawyer Mills and Corbett, Nash, Bradley and baby girl Barloon.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Joe in 1989, and her parents, George and Abbie Kostka and Joe’s parents, Joe Sr. and Fannie Fencl, sister Arlene and brother-in-law Harold Baethke, sister-in-law Lois and brother-in-law Don (Sugar) Fencl, sister-in-law Dorothy (Dottie) and brother-in-law Lloyd Novak and nieces and nephews.

Helen was a great and generous wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt and godmother and will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved her.

Source: Hindt Funeral Home database

Holy Trinity Cemetery
 

Howard Obituaries maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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