Obituary for Helen Jean Powell (Wenzel)
Helen J. Powell, 91, of Camanche, Iowa passed away on Friday, March 4, 2022, under Hospice care at Park Vista Retirement Living. Funeral services occur at 2 pm on Tuesday, March 15, at Lemke Funeral Homes – South Chapel. A visitation occurs 1 hour prior, from 1 pm until the service hour at the funeral home. Burial takes place at Clinton Lawn Cemetery. Lemke Funeral Homes assisted the family with arrangements.
Helen Jean Wenzel was born October 22, 1930, to Iola Freeze Wenzel and Henry Wenzel in Camanche township. The family lived in Shaffton, Iowa and Helen started school in the Sodus school in Shaffton. In 1938, after a brief move to Clinton, they moved to the city of Camanche. There was no city water or sewer and only dirt roads. Firemen were called to a fire by the constant ringing of church bells. Helen attended the Camanche Schools.
On June 1, 1947, Helen was married to Donald W. Powell at the First Methodist Church in Clinton. Rev. Charles Hempstead performed the ceremonies. They continued to live in Camanche, where they would eventually build their own house and raise their family.
Helen was a year-round employee at Burpee Seed Company. As their family began she became a stay-at-home mom. Over the years, she was involved in Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts. Don and Helen were foster parents for 20 years. Helen was a Health and Safety instructor for the Clinton Red Cross for over 30 years. Don served as her set-up man when CPR and AED were added to the training. During this time, Helen became an Instructor trainer. She enjoyed the many people she did classes for in the area factories. She served on the Red Cross Board.
Besides caring for her home and family, Helen loved to sew - both machine and by hand. She loved reading, jigsaw puzzles and word searches. Helen and Don enjoyed traveling and camping and have been to all 50 states. She was a charter member of the Camanche Immanuel Lutheran church in which she served as Sunday School Treasurer and the church council including being President for ten years.
Don was a prisoner of war in WW 2. They were life members of local, state and national American Ex-POW organizations and attended several American Ex-POW conventions. Don, died September 18, 2010.
Helen is survived by a son Donald C. (Julie) Powell of Altoona, daughter Kim L. Ongie of Fairfax, four grandchildren, Wes Powell of Kansas City, MO, Kelsey (Paul) Tiberi of Conifer, CO, Aminda (Dillon) Nolan of Cedar Rapids, and Kyle Ongie of Cedar Rapids. One great-grandson, John Nolan and one great-granddaughter, Olivia Nolan.
She was preceded in death by her husband Don, a son Gene, her sisters Bessie and Evelyn, her parents and her grandparents.
Memorials made can be directed to the family.
Helen Jean Wenzel was born October 22, 1930, to Iola Freeze Wenzel and Henry Wenzel in Camanche township. The family lived in Shaffton, Iowa and Helen started school in the Sodus school in Shaffton. In 1938, after a brief move to Clinton, they moved to the city of Camanche. There was no city water or sewer and only dirt roads. Firemen were called to a fire by the constant ringing of church bells. Helen attended the Camanche Schools.
On June 1, 1947, Helen was married to Donald W. Powell at the First Methodist Church in Clinton. Rev. Charles Hempstead performed the ceremonies. They continued to live in Camanche, where they would eventually build their own house and raise their family.
Helen was a year-round employee at Burpee Seed Company. As their family began she became a stay-at-home mom. Over the years, she was involved in Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts. Don and Helen were foster parents for 20 years. Helen was a Health and Safety instructor for the Clinton Red Cross for over 30 years. Don served as her set-up man when CPR and AED were added to the training. During this time, Helen became an Instructor trainer. She enjoyed the many people she did classes for in the area factories. She served on the Red Cross Board.
Besides caring for her home and family, Helen loved to sew - both machine and by hand. She loved reading, jigsaw puzzles and word searches. Helen and Don enjoyed traveling and camping and have been to all 50 states. She was a charter member of the Camanche Immanuel Lutheran church in which she served as Sunday School Treasurer and the church council including being President for ten years.
Don was a prisoner of war in WW 2. They were life members of local, state and national American Ex-POW organizations and attended several American Ex-POW conventions. Don, died September 18, 2010.
Helen is survived by a son Donald C. (Julie) Powell of Altoona, daughter Kim L. Ongie of Fairfax, four grandchildren, Wes Powell of Kansas City, MO, Kelsey (Paul) Tiberi of Conifer, CO, Aminda (Dillon) Nolan of Cedar Rapids, and Kyle Ongie of Cedar Rapids. One great-grandson, John Nolan and one great-granddaughter, Olivia Nolan.
She was preceded in death by her husband Don, a son Gene, her sisters Bessie and Evelyn, her parents and her grandparents.
Memorials made can be directed to the family.