TRAER-Helen Janssen, 98, of Traer, died Wednesday, June 30, 2010, at Sunnycrest Nursing Center in Dysart under the care of Iowa Hospice. Private Family Graveside Services will be held Friday, July 2, 2010 at Buckingham Cemetery in Traer.
Helen was born on March 2, 1912, in Toledo, Iowa, the daughter of LeRoy and Margaret Mary (O'Connor) Surface.
She graduated from Toledo High School.
On September 14, 1933, she was united in marriage to Hugo Janssen in Marshalltown, Iowa. She had several jobs over the years for local businesses and industries. Helen liked to garden. She also liked animals and spending time outdoors enjoying nature. Her greatest enjoyment was spending time with family and friends.
Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Hugo on September 1, 1971; a daughter, Ellen Hodgskiss; two sisters, Ruth Surface and Marguerite Bacon; and one son-in-law, Louis "Foss" Owen.
Survivors include one daughter, Lois Owen of West Des Moines; two sons, Dale (Patricia) Janssen of Bettendorf and Mark Janssen of Traer; five grandchildren, Debra (Brian) Egger of Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany, Brian Janssen of Brookfield, WI, Deborah Septer of West Des Moines, Denise Robinson of Des Moines and Gregory (Stephanie) Owen of New Brighton, MN; six great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; a son-in-law, William Hodgskiss of Powell, WY; and a niece, Jean (Ersol) Wilhelmi of Toledo.
Memorials may be directed to the family.