Helen McNary, 1945-2015

Published 9:00 am Sunday, November 1, 2015

Helen McNary, 70, of Marshalltown, Iowa, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2015, at Mary Greely Hospital in Ames, Iowa, with her loving family at her side. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Marshalltown. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow the service and a  luncheon will be served at the church. The Rev. Greg Bahl will officiate. Mitchell Family Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Helen Marie Gerber was born May 9, 1945, in Walters to Edward Gerber and Martha Simon. In 1963 she graduated from high school in Hayfield and lived in Albert Lea for several years, where she worked at Land O’Lakes.

On Oct. 18, 1980, she married David McNary in Marshalltown where they settled and had lived ever since. She made many acquaintances at Maid-Rite in Marshalltown where she worked for 20 years. She finished her working career at Wal-Mart in Marshalltown where she retired in 2010.

Helen was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She loved her family dearly, and that love was reflected back to her many times over. She very much enjoyed caring for her family in every way. She especially enjoyed cooking and good home-cooked meals. In her spare time she might be found solving puzzles of all sorts from the daily newspaper.

Helen will be missed by her loving husband, David; three children, Eddie (Dennise) Schmidt of Marshalltown, Kerrie (Britt) Taul of Montour and Christen Schmidt and husband, Terry Bickel, of Laurel; eight grandchildren, Samantha, Christopher and Alexis Schmidt, Brenden and Trevor Taul, and Leslie, Ethan and Ellie Schmidt; four great-grandchildren; two brothers, Ervin (Mary) Gerber of Walters and Gordon Peterson of Lake Mills; sister, Darlene Holdgrafer, of Twin Lakes; mother-in-law, Margaret McNary, of Marshalltown; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Robert and Merlyn Peterson, both of Albert Lea; nephew, Brandon Peterson, of Albert Lea; and father-in-law, Harvey McNary, of Marshalltown.

Memorials may be directed to the Iowa Food Bank in loving memory of Helen.

Online condolences may be sent to www.mitchellfh.com.