Helen McKinstry

HELEN JEAN MCKINSTRY

Mount Vernon

Helen Jean McKinstry, 81, of Mount Vernon, died in the early morning hours of March 5, 2022, at the Dennis & Donna Oldorf Hospice House, with her loving family at her side, from complications of a sudden illness and dementia. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 10, at Wayne Zion Lutheran Church, rural Monticello. Friends may call after noon at the church. Interment will be in the Wayne Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery. Jean's pastor, the Rev. Paris White, from Seeds of Faith Lutheran Church will officiate the services. Goettsch Funeral Home has taken Helen and her family into their care. By visiting www.goettschonline.com you may share your thoughts, memories and condolences with Helen's family and sign her online guest book.

Surviving are her daughter, Dawn Buol of Wyoming; grandson, Benjamin (Angie) Buol, Cooper, Tatum and Antin, all of Marion; grandson, Brandon (Aimee) Buol, Harper and Catherine, all of Columbus Junction; son, Ronald (Danie) McKinstry of Palo; grandson, Zac (fiancee Bre) McKinstry of Palo; grandson, Logan (Brooke) McKinstry, Bodie and Grant, all of Urbana; brother-in-law, Larry Behrends of Monticello; and her beloved German Sheperd, Sunny.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Catherine Harms Folkers; infant brother, Richard; husband, Stuart McKinstry; and sisters and brothers-in-law, Margaret and Paul Whear, Alice and Ted Henderson and Lois Behrends.

Helen Jean Folkers was born Oct. 9, 1939, in Wayne Township, Jones County, Iowa, the daughter of Henry and Catherine (Harms) Folkers. Helen received her early education in the Wayne Township schools. She graduated from Monticello Community Schools with the Class of 1957. In high school Helen met her forever Valentine, Stuart McKinstry, whom she married on Feb. 14, 1958. Helen was a homemaker until her children were in grade school. She began working as a secretary organizing every office that she worked in DC Taylor, Allied Insurance, White Trucking Co., Coors Co., until she attended Kirkwood Community College. where she graduated with her medical coding and transcriptionist degree. She then worked in the medical coding and billing office for Mercy Hospital until she retired.

In addition to raising two children, she was an avid gardener and dedicated church member. Helen was a member of the Linn County Master Gardeners for many years taking pride in her ability to beautify the world around her. She was a founding member of Seeds of Faith Lutheran Church in Lisbon, where she was a faithful servant of the Lord through her works with Monday morning ministries, grounds and gardening, and serving on church boards and volunteering where the Lord needed her.

She loved her dogs, family and friends. Her time spent with them were her most cherished moments.

Thoughts, memories and condolences may be left at www.goettschonline.com.

In lieu of flowers, Helens wishes were that memorials be made to Cedar Valley Humane Society or Seeds of Faith Lutheran Church for a garden bench to add to the beautiful landscaping.