Nienhaus, Helen Martha -- 1915 - 2009

RAUSCH, BODENSTEINER, NIENHAUS, BLONG, MRACEK, MIHM, HOLTHAUS, SCHULER, KOCH

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 12/18/2009 at 19:09:45

Fayette Leader newspaper
Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Services were Monday, Nov. 30, 2009 at St. Francis De Sales Catholic Church in Ossian for Helen Nienhaus, 94, of Ossian. Msgr. Cletus J. Hawes officiated. Interment was in the Our Lady of Seven Dolors Cemetery in Festina. Conway-Schmitz Funeral Home in Ossian was in charge of arrangements. Helen died Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009 at the Ossian Senior Hospice, where she’s been since Dec. 2004.

Helen Martha Nienhaus was born March 21, 1915, at St. Lucas, to Carl and Johanna (Rausch) Bodensteiner. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Luke’s Church in St. Lucas. Helen also received her education at St. Luke’s School where she boarded with the Sisters through the winter months. Helen stayed home following her education and helped with the household chores and helped take care of her younger brothers and sisters.

April 28, 1936, she married Florian Joseph Nienhaus at St. Luke’s Catholic Church in St. Lucas. They lived on a farm south of Festina until they retired and moved to Ossian in 1975. As a farm wife Helen took care of many chores, feeding the chickens, gathering eggs, growing vegetables, taking care of the house, mending clothes and raising seven children. She was especially proud of her large strawberry patch. Helen was an Avon lady for many years. She was a wonderful cook and spent many hours canning and freezing garden produce. After their retirement to Ossian, Helen did sewing and mending for many people in the area. In the winter months she loved to watch and feed the wild birds.

Helen was an active member of the Our Lady of Seven Dolors Rosary Society and in later years the St. Francis De Sales Rosary Society. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court #983. She enjoyed playing cards, was an avid gardener and seamstress and loved caring for her grandchildren.

Helen is survived by her children: Marilyn (Robert) Blong of Albert Lea, Minn., Garvin (Janice) Nienhaus of Tipton, Dale (Kathy) Nienhaus of St. Croix Falls, Wis., Cheryl (Kevin) Mracek of Protivin, and Rick (Martye) Nienhaus of Jamestown, N.M.; 12 grandchildren: Mark (Jodi), John (Michelle), Tom (Karen) Blong; Kathie (Kimball) Hemmingson; Terry (Jennifer), Steve (Niki), and Chris Nienhaus; Kelly (Brad) Elsbernd, Karla and Kyle Mracek; Billy and Cheyenne Perrone; fifteen great grandchildren: Michael, Tyler, Jacob, Kayla, Kathryn, David, Brooke, Brooke, Claire, Jacob, Colton, Keeley, Keaton, Annabelle and John; one brother: Leo (Arlene) Bodensteiner of St. Lucas; three sisters: Frieda Mihm of St. Lucas, Irene Holthaus of Decorah, Julie “Irma” Schuler of Austin, Texas; three sisters-in-laws: Alvina Bodensteiner of Waucoma, Melita Bodensteiner of St. Lucas, and Gerri Bodensteiner of Osage; one brother-in-law, Sylvester Moellers; many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband: Florian in 1989; two children: Allen and Kathie; four brothers: Ray, Albert, Irvin, Richard Bodensteiner; one sister: Alma Koch; four brothers-in-law: Linus Mihm, Nilus Holthaus, John Schuler and Dick Koch; one sister-in-law: Sylvia Bodensteiner; five sisters-in-law and their spouses: Rose Schmitt, Mae (Phil) Lusson, Eleanor (Nick) Croatt, Irma (Joe) Falada, Virginia Moellers; one brother-in-law Alphonse Nienhaus.

Contributor is not related and has no further information.

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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