Helen Van Steenhuyse

HELEN VAN STEENHUYSE

Vinton

Helen Van Steenhuyse, 90, died peacefully Wednesday, June 1, 2016, at Deerfield Retirement Community in Urbandale. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 6, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Vinton, with the Rev. Ardel Barta as celebrant. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, June 5, at Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home in Vinton, with a Scripture service at 6:30 p.m. There also will be visitation from 9:30 until Mass time at the church on Monday. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery.

On Aug. 27, 1947, she married Ray Van Steenhuyse in Williamsburg. The couple moved to a farm near Mount Auburn in 1949. Helen was active in numerous civic organizations. She also was an active member of St. Mary Catholic Church and was a church organist for many years. Helen was a devoted Vinton School Board member for 19 years. She also was involved at the state and national level and was president of Iowa Association of School Boards in 1984-85.

She is survived by her five children, Frank (Kathy) Van Steenhuyse of Vinton, Tom (Jim Edwards) Stonehouse of Palm Springs, Calif., Dan (Nancy) Van Steenhuyse of Vinton, Mary McLaury of Falls Church, Va., and Amy (Kurt) Lau of Clive; 10 grandchildren, Todd (Jenn) Van Steenhuyse of Champaign, Ill., Kate (Ryan) Gates of Wichita, Kan., Mark Van Steenhuyse of Wichita, Ann Van Steenhuyse of Schaumburg, Ill., Tyler (Tessa) Van Steenhuyse of Urbandale, Laura (Joe) Van Stinn of Tallahassee, Fla., Jessica Harding of Alexandria, Va., Michael Lau of Washington, D.C., Tommie Lau of Iowa City and Elizabeth Lau of Clive; seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ray, in 2011; brother and sister-in-law, John and Jeanne Walsh; and sister and brother-in-law, Rita and Bill Barron.

Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home is caring for Helen and her family. Condolences may be left at www.vsrfh.com.