Helen Wegmuller

HELEN WEGMULLER

Oxford

Helen C. Wegmuller, 101.9, of Oxford, died Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2014, at Lakeview Village in Amana. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 8, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Oxford. Burial will follow at Mount

Calvary Cemetery, Oxford. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the church, where a parish vigil service will be held at 8 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in Helen's memory.

Online condolences may be sent for her family through the Web at www. gayandciha.com.

Helen Cecelia Kinney was born Oct. 29, 1912, in rural Johnson County, Iowa, the daughter of Edward and Catherine (Doolin) Kinney. She attended Cosgrove Catholic Schools. On April 22, 1931, she was united in marriage to A.E. Wegmuller at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Oxford by Father Finefield. The couple moved to the family century farm near Oxford in 1935. Here they raised their family, farmed the land, and supported their church, community and all their family and friends for so many years. Alf died in 1998.

Helen accepted her responsibilities as matriarch of their family with great pride and determination. Her church continued to be very important to her, with her ritual of Mass on Tuesday, followed by a roll and coffee at the Sale Barn with her special group of friends. She also continued her love of their garden, canning and sharing the bounty of her hard work with others.

In November 2010, she moved to Lakeview Village, and here the visits by her family and friends, especially on her birthday, brought her great joy.

The farm still remains the family gathering place – many family picnics on the hilly lawn of the home place brought her siblings, nieces, nephews and, of course, her own family to gather for such fun.

Her family includes her children, Dolores Kelly of Las Vegas, Nev., Emma Lou Downes (Larry) of Blairstown and Bill Wegmuller of the Philippines; 21 grandchildren; 51 great-grandchildren; 17 great-great-grandchildren; special niece, Blanche Smith of Oxford; and her only remaining member of the siblings, her sister-in-law and best friend, Lucille Kinney of Iowa City.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Alf; children, Bob Wegmuller, Shirley Fraizer and her husband, Larry; son-in-law, Bud Kelly; grandchildren, Alan Wegmuller, Theresa Fraizer, Nic Kelly and Pat Downes; and a great-grandson, Ethan Wegmuller.

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