VanWechel, Helen, 1904-2000

VANWECHEL, MUILENBURG

Posted By: Lydia Lucas-Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/27/2011 at 20:18:09

Helen Van Wechel, 96, of Grinnell died Sunday, Aug. 6, 2000, at the Mayflower Home Health Care Center of a heart ailment.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Aug. 12 at 11:00 a.m. at the Carmen Center of the Mayflower Home. Rev. Robert Molsberry, pastor of the United Church of Christ-Congregational in Grinnell will officiate. Burial will be held at the West Lawn Cemetery in Orange City under the direction of the Smith Funeral Home, Grinnell.

Helen was born on June 15, 1904, in Maurice, the daughter of Allen and Wilhelmina Muilenburg Van Wechtel. The family moved to Orange City in 1914, and she graduated from Orange City High School with the class of 1921. Following high school, Helen taught in rural schools near Maurice. She attended Northwestern College in Orange City and graduated from the University of Iowa. She taught in public schools in Monroe, Hartley and Waterloo. In 1959, she received a Master's Degree in library science from the University of Denver. She returned to Orange City and was a teacher and librarian at Northwestern College until her retirement in 1969. She moved to Grinnell in 1970, and resided at the Mayflower Home for many years.

Helen was a member of the American Reformed Church while living in Orange City and the United Church of Christ-Congregational of Grinnell. She was also a member of Delat Kappa Gamma.

Survivors include a sister, Geraldine Postma of Grinnell; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Mildred Lindquist [Linquist]; and six brothers, Clarence, Raymond, Kenneth, Melvin, Verlyn and Lloyd Van Wechel.

Source: Sioux County Capital, August 10, 2000.