STEARNS, Helen L. (1924-2003)

STEARNS

Posted By: Don Boucher (email)
Date: 2/21/2013 at 08:02:17

Obituary from The Des Moines Register newspaper, Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, USA on 10-8-2003:

Helen Lucille Stearns passed away peacefully at home on Monday, October 6, 2003 at the age of 79. Services will be Thursday, October 9 at 2:30 p.m. at Union Park Christian Church, at E. 9th and Grandview, with visitation from noon to 2:30 p.m. Thursday also at the church. Burial will be in Woodburn Cemetery in Woodburn, IA.

Helen was born in Osceola, Iowa on February 29, 1924, the daughter of Leo Preston Howe and Lela Hadley Howe. She graduated from Osceola High School as Salutatorian of the graduating class of 1942. She taught in the Jamison Country School in Clarke County and later in Warren County.

She was united in marriage to Earnest Edwin Stearns on January 26, 1945 in Princeton, MO, and to this union three children were born. She worked as a bookkeeper for Robinson's Department Store in Osceola for 23 years. She was married to James Nuzum June 23, 1998.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Earnest; her parents; three sisters, Donna Marie Howe, Marilyn Conklin and Pauline Durr; and two brothers, Marvin Howe and Loren Howe. She is survived by husband, James Nuzum of Des Moines; daughters, Norma Jean Oliver and husband Dean of Hiram, GA, and Janic Elaine Gray and husband Bill of Des Moines; son, Joseph Edwin Stearns and wife Beth of Lacona, IA; sister, Geraldine Smith of Lacona, IA; ten grandchildren, Lori Ann Oliver, Christopher Jason Gray, Angela Dawn Luna, Joseph Edwin Stearns Jr., Michelle Ann Anderson, Rachel Marie Costello, Rebekkah Ann Stearns, Timothy Andrew Stearns, Earnest James Stearns and Peter Samuel Stearns; eight great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and friends.