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Dawson, Helen C.
Helen C. Dawson, 96, of Riverside, Calif., passed away peacefully on Monday, Dec. 28, 2009, at Cypress Gardens Convalescent Hospital. Funeral Mass was Jan. 2, 2010, at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church in Grand Terrace, Calif. Her burial was Jan. 12 at St. Mary's Cemetery, Strawberry Point, with Father Paul Peters officiating. Roberson Funeral Home, Strawberry Point, was in charge of arrangements.
Surviving are her three daughters, Joan Chrzanowski, Jannan Dawson and Jean Scott; their husbands; 12 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her two husbands, Ray
Radloff and Louis Dawson; her parents; four brothers, Mike (Max), Harry, Joe and Leo Opitz; and three sisters, Margaret Anderson, Florence Burd and Mary Collins.
Helen was born June 28, 1913, in Elkader, Iowa, the daughter of Max and Elizabeth (Bauer) Opitz. She taught elementary school for two years in Elkader. She married Raymond Radloff and together they raised three daughters. In 1944, the family moved to Riverside, Calif. Raymond passed away in 1957 and she married Louis Dawson in November 1978. Louis passed away in March 2001.
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