Dunek, Helen Ruth

Helen Ruth Dunek, 95, of Shellsburg, formerly of Cedar Rapids, passed away Wednesday, June 6, 2012, at Mercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids, after a brief illness. Visitation will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, June 8, at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home in Cedar Rapids. The memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories, Cedar Rapids.

Surviving are her two sons, Rawson “Rosie” (Barb) Behel of Shellsburg and Doug Dunek of Clive; a daughter, Carol (Bob) Koletzky of Yankton, S.D.; nine grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and her sisters, Geraldine Wiant of Coggon and Edna Gelski of Cedar Rapids.

Helen Ruth Dunek was born Feb. 5, 1917, in rural Coggon, Iowa, the daughter of Mark L. and Geneva J. (Green) Henderson. She was a 1935 graduate from Coggon High School. She married Joseph Dunek on March 29, 1947. Helen worked many jobs but the ones she most talked about were her days when she was a nanny for the Cherry family. She also had many stories about working at Collins Radio, and visiting with Arthur Collins. After she retired she worked for Skogman preparing new homes for showings.

She enjoyed being outdoors, gardening and spending time with her family.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her son, Allen Behel; a brother, Leo M. Henderson; and sisters, Elizabeth Woods, Mary Ellen Hattman and Doris Andrews.

The family would like to thank Rock Ridge Nursing Home for the care given to Helen these past few years.

Online condolences may be left at www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.

Published June 7, 2012 in The Gazette