Vander Helm, Henry "Hank" 1928-2003

VANDERHELM, JANSSEN, MARIENAU

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 7/22/2009 at 09:39:21

HAWARDEN, Iowa -- Henry "Hank" Vander Helm, 75, of Hawarden died peacefully in his home on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2003, with his family at his side.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hawarden, with the Rev. Todd Bunge officiating. Burial will be in Grace Hill Cemetery in Hawarden, with military rites conducted by the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars of Hawarden. Visitation will begin at noon today, with a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Porter Funeral Home in Hawarden.

Henry "Hank" Vander Helm was born March 30, 1928, in Westfield, Iowa, the son of Simon and Carrie (Janssen) Vander Helm. In 1945, he joined the U.S. Navy and served on the Marshall Islands in the Pacific.

He married Eileen Marienau on Jan. 4, 1952, in Brunsville, Iowa. They lived in Sioux Center, Iowa, where he was manager of the Co-op Elevator. They moved to Hawarden in 1960, and Henry worked as manager of Lambertson's and Hawarden Feed and Grain until his retirement.

Henry was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Hawarden, where he served as a trustee. He enjoyed gardening, fishing and visiting with family and friends.

Survivors include his wife, Eileen; his children, Mark and Beth Vander Helm of Hawarden, Regan and Linda Pearson of Alcester, S.D., Mike and Leah Van Wyhe of Ireton, Iowa, Jeff and Lorna Musilek of Hawarden, and LaRae Topete of Hawarden; four brothers and their wives, Allen and Ramona Vander Helm of Akron, Iowa, John and Doris Vander Helm of Hawarden, Sam and Shirley Vander Helm of Braham, Minn., and Basil and Lavina Vander Helm of Sioux Center; a sister-in-law, Vivian Hedden of Hawarden; two stepsisters, Bertha and her husband, Marvin Sjaarda of Paullina, Iowa, and Gert and her husband, John Zommermand of Holland, Mich.; 13 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Henry was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, George; a sister, Marie Obbink; his stepfather, John Ter Haar; a stepbrother; and three stepsisters.

~Source: The Sioux City Journal, Nov. 2, 2003; part of the Darrell E. Obituary Collection