TAMA- Helen Elizabeth Pieper, age 82, of Tama, died on Friday, March 24, 2006 in Sunny Hill Care Center in Tama following a lengthy illness. A Memorial Mass will be held on Saturday, April 1, 2006 at 10:30 AM at the St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Tama. Interment will be private at St. Patrick's Cemetery in Tama. There will be no visitation.
Helen Elizabeth Pieper was born on October 7, 1923, in Des Moines, IA, the daughter of Oren and Angela Boddicker Kelly. She graduated from Newhall High School in 1941. In 1944, she graduated from nursing school at St. Frances Hospital in Evanston, IL. On December 26, 1946, she was united in marriage to Fred Pieper, at St. Joseph's Church in Marion. She was a former nurse in the Cook County Hospital in Chicago and a secretary for Pieper Insurance in Tama. Helen was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Tama and St. Elizabeth Circle at St. Patrick's Church. She served on the Tama County Board of Health and was on the Tama Ambulance crew. Her hobbies included reading, sewing and crafts. She loved making crafts for other people and she enjoyed going to garage sales. Helen and her husband Fred were very active in the 14th Armored Division reunions, and she helped plan many of the events through their Auxiliary. She was a very hard worker and will be remembered for her generosity to everyone.
She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Jack Kelly; and one grandson, Steve Waterbury.
Survivors include her husband Fred of Tama; five children, Ellen (Joe) Waterbury of Tama, Megan Paulsen (Leland Bonnell) of Warrenville, IL, Rand (LouAnn) Pieper of Carmel, IN, Tom (Linda) Pieper of Warrrenville, IL, and Mike (Becky Zhorne) Pieper of Tama; eight grandchildren, Chris Waterbury, Deb Reid, Mike Waterbury, Brian Paulsen, Alisha Pieper, Libby, Emily and Elyse Pieper; eleven great-grandchildren; four sisters, Margaret Clemens of Norridge, IL, Lucille Lee of Waterloo, Sharon Labelle of Waukegan, IL, and Kathy Fesenmyer of Schererville, IN; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to Iowa River Hospice are appreciated.
Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama is handling the arrangements.