Dorothy Helscher

DOROTHY G. (RANKIN) HELSCHER

Washington

A funeral service for Dorothy G. (Rankin) Helscher, 96, of Washing-ton, will be 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 21, at United Methodist Church in Washington, with Pastor Ben Blanchard officiating. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday at the church. Private family burial will be at Keota Cemetery.

A memorial fund has been established for Halcyon House and United Methodist Church.

Dorothy Helscher died Friday, Jan. 15, 2016, at Halcyon House in Washington.

Dorothy G. (Rankin) Helscher was born May 10, 1919, in Garner, Iowa, the daughter of Arthur E. And Mabel (Brinton) Rankin. She graduated from Hampton High School and attended Iowa State University for two years. On Jan. 14, 1940, she was united in marriage to John W. "Bill" Helscher at her home in Hampton.

Dorothy taught piano lessons and was the organist at United Methodist Church for 37 years. In 1984, she graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree. She was a member of United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women, D.A.R., P.E.O. Chapter J, TTT Chapter Y and Fortnightly and was Rotary Person of the Year.

Dorothy enjoyed music of all kinds, playing bridge, traveling and being with her grandchildren. Dorothy and Bill hosted many foreign students and were foster parents.

Survivors include three children of Washington and 10 granddaugthers: daughter, Mary (Yaro) Chmelar, parents of Ann Chmelar, Nancy Bird, Kerry Barrow and Catherine Chmelar; son, Dr. John (Mary Lynn Mathiason) Helscher, parents of Jennifer Walsh, Wendy Paiva and Heather Runge; and son, Robert (Peggy) Helscher, parents of Sarai Logue, Kristen Anderson and Mary Reihner; 24 great-grandchildren; one stepgreat-granddaughter; and a sister, Alice Butler of St. Clair, Mich.

Preceding Dorothy in death were her parents and her husband, Bill Helscher, on May 4, 2001.