Helen Wendel

Helen Wendel, age 96, of State Center and formerly of rural Rhodes, passed away Wednesday late afternoon in the care of the Iowa River Hospice Home in Marshalltown.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, October 13th, at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in State Center with Pastor Melissa Waterman officiating. She will be laid to rest in the Hillside Cemetery at State Center. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday at the church. Memorials may be directed to St. Paul Lutheran. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. The Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Helen and her family.

Born on July 11th, 1929, at Roland, Iowa, she was the daughter of Alfred Martin and Elmira Theresa (Johnson) Lee. Her faith in the Lutheran Church was the foundation of her life. She was baptized at Bergan Lutheran Church on Sept. 1, 1929, and confirmed on May 28th, 1944, at Salem Lutheran Church, both in Roland. She received her education in the Roland and Fernald area and graduated from the Rhodes High School in 1947. Later that same year, she attended AIB in Des Moines, graduating in 1948.

On December 18th, 1949, she was united in marriage to Harlan M. Wendel at the Salem Lutheran Church in Roland. They made their home near Rhodes where they farmed together and raised a family of four dear children. Upon Harlan’s passing in 1999, she retired to State Center. Mrs. Wendel was an active member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in State Center, the St. Paul Afternoon Circle and WELCA, Cluster II and SE Iowa Synod ELCA MW Club.

Helen was blessed with her family, including her children: Pamela (Robert) German of Dallas Center, David (Connie) Wendel of rural Rhodes, Michelle Crouse of Allen, TX and Ann Taylor of Carmel, IN; ten precious grandchildren- Christina (Rob) Buettel and Scott (Erin) German, Lisa (Pete) Peterson, Aaron (Lacey) Wendel, Joel Wendel, Katie, Abby and Allison Crouse, Linsay (Mike) Merle and Sarah Taylor; 13 treasured great-grandchildren- Paityn, Landrey and Presley Peterson, Gage, Drew, and Samantha Wendel, Gracie Forney and Aria Wendel, Jack, Logan and Josie Bearden, and Clark and Ellis Merle; sister Ava Eichler of New Orleans, LA.; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and best friend, Goldie Walker.

In death, Helen rejoined her beloved Harlan, her parents, step-mother Esther Lee, son-in-law Jim Crouse, brother Donald (Dolores) Lee, step-sister Elizabeth (Richard) Bear; step-sister Charlene DeVries, and a grandchild.