Laurilyn 'Lauri' Helmers

LAURILYN D. "LAURI" HELMERS

Coralville

Laurilyn D. "Lauri" Helmers, 59, of Coralville passed away Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016, under the compassionate care of Mercy Hospice in Iowa City. Funeral services will be at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, where a time of visitation will be held from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. and again following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Lauri's name may be directed to Iowa City Hospice or Mercy Hospital Hospice. Online condolences can be shared with her family at www.gayandciha.com.

Laurilyn Dee Helmers was born June 4, 1956, in Sibley, Iowa, the daughter of Lawrence and Sheryl (Blumeyer) Helmers. She attended South Dakota State where she earned her B.S. in pharmacy. She worked as a pharmacist for a number of years before deciding to return to school and pursue her desire to help others as physician. She attended medical school at the University of Iowa's College of Medicine where she earned her M.D. On April 5, 1997, she was united in marriage to Kirk Manske at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Iowa City. They had resided in Coralville ever since, with the exception of six years spent in Seattle.

Currently Lauri was working at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics as a clinical associate professor in the department of anesthesia, specializing in pediatrics. When not working, she and Kirk loved to travel together whether around the country or to different parts of the world. Lauri completed one of her travel goals in 2013, which was to visit and get her photo taken at every U.S. state capital.

Her family includes her husband, Kirk; father, Lawrence Helmers and his wife, Jeanne, of Ashton; brothers, Tim of Sibley, Todd and his wife, Linda, of Spirit Lake and Thomas and his wife, Carrie, of Parker, Colo.; as well as numerous extended family members.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Sheryl, in 2003.

Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for Lauri's family and her services.