Helen M. Lewis' Obituary
Helen Lewis, age 82 of Mystic, Iowa (formerly of Correctionville, Iowa) died Saturday morning, May 3, 2008 at the Golden Age Care Center in Centerville.
Helen was born February 15, 1926, the daughter of Maurice and Orpha (Loraditch) Healy in Le Mars, Iowa. She attended school in Hinton, Iowa. Helen married Edwin Zahnley and later Laverne Merchant. They preceded her in death. She married Gene Lewis on December 16, 1975 in Randolph, Nebraska. Helen was employed in several fields throughout her working career. She worked in the education field as a head start teacher in Correctionville, Iowa. She also worked in the industrial field for Aalf's Manufacturing in Sioux City, Iowa. Helen later worked and retired in the health care field as a nurse's aide for nursing homes in Mesa and Phoenix, Arizona. She and her husband spent eighteen months managing an apartment complex in Mesa, Arizona.
Helen loved to sew quilts for her kids and grandchildren. She made quilts for their graduations from school. Helen enjoyed gardening, fishing and dancing. She was well known for her canning, especially her dandelion jelly.
Helen is survived by her husband Gene Lewis of Mystic, Iowa; four children, Lester (Shirley) Zahnley of Correctionville, Iowa, Diana (John) Book of Hillsboro, Oregon, Sherri Bick of Moville, Iowa, and Mary (Keith) Burns of Sioux City, Iowa; nine grandchildren, Terri (David) Ketelsen of Sioux City, Iowa, Tami (Mike) Otto of Ankeny, Iowa, Steven (Julie) Book of Sandy, Oregon, Emily (Dan) Wimmer of Hillsboro, Oregon, Christopher, Jacob, and Hannah Bick of Moville, Iowa, Nicole and Kyle Burns of Sioux City, Iowa; nine great grandchildren; two sisters, Maureen (Arlo) Lehr of Omaha, Nebraska, and Jean Roberts of Grand Island, Nebraska. She was preceded in death by her parents; her previous husbands Edwin Zahnley and Laverne Merchant; three brothers, Lyle, Dale, and Mark Healy; and three sisters, Kathleen Ricke, Ruth Pfiffer, and Edith Moss.
Memorial services will be held 10:30 AM, Thursday, May 8, 2008 at the Assembly of God Church in Correctionville, Iowa with Pastor Clifton Cockburn officiating. A fellowship luncheon will take place after the service at the Veteran's Hall in Correctionville. Burial will take place at a later date in the Highland Cemetery in Mystic, Iowa. A memorial has been established to the family and may be left at or mailed to the Thomas Lange Funeral Home, 1900 S. 18th St., Centerville, Iowa, 52544. Condolences may be left online at www.thomaslangefuneralhome.com.
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