Sturtz, Helene

Helene Sturtz, 79, of Cedar Rapids, died Sunday, May 9, 2010, at Mercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids, following a brief illness. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 22, at St. James United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Beth Straw officiating. A gathering will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. at the church before the service on Saturday.

Survivors include her children, William (Fancha) Sturtz of Rochester, N.Y., Robert (Jane) Sturtz of Winnebago, Minn., Dean (Kristie) Sturtz of Swisher, DeWayne Sturtz of Marion and Diane (Gary) Arp of Cedar Rapids; brother, Alfred (Phyllis) Kern of Reno, N.V.; 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; former spouse, James Sturtz in 1973; and a sister, Rosalie Gandy.

Helene F. Kern was born May 20, 1930, in Sioux City, Iowa, the daughter of Robert and Marie (Bohme) Kern. On Feb. 12, 1950, she married James B. Sturtz in Elk Point, S.D. They later divorced. Helene raised five children on her own while attending Mount Mercy College, where she received her B.A. degree in education in 1974. She was a member of St. James United Methodist Church, was a water safety instructor for the Cedar Rapids YMCA and for Cedar Rapids Municipal Pools, especially Ellis Park Pool. Helene worked for the Cedar Rapids Public school system with at-risk children and then worked for the Cedar Rapids Gazette for 15 years until retirement.

Her hobbies included gardening, reading and music. Helene was known and loved as “Mom” to many and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in her name to the Alzheimer's Association.

Online condolences may be left at under obituaries.