Helene Gesine Mennen

Helene Gesine Mennen, age 92, passed away Friday, July 12, 2019 at Franklin General Hospital in Hampton, Iowa. She was born February 11, 1927, daughter of Anna (Hartman) and Nanne Franken in Parkersburg, Iowa. She attended the country school near Allison, Iowa. She married Edward Mennen on June 27, 1945. They began their life together on a farm near Aplington, Iowa. Later moving to a farm north of Dumont and finally moving into "town" where Helene resided until this past week. Helene and Ed had four children together, Diane, Bonnie, and the twins: Denise and Dennis. She loved her children dearly and enjoyed doing things with them throughout their lives, as well as with her grandchildren. She was a superfan for all sports and activities and could always be found close to the front row. She loved getting her family together and treasured every moment. Her calendar was full of dates of loved ones birthdays and anniversaries and her desk full of cards. She never missed a special date, or the opportunity to write someone. She also was incredibly generous with what she had. Her closet was always full of 2 or 3 of the same items she loved or thought others should have. Rarely did her children or grandchildren enter her home and not leave without something new or extra she sent with them. Helene was an incredibly hard-working, active, and busy woman in her younger years. She spent her days as a wonderful home-maker, always serving up delicious meals, and baking wonderful desserts, cookies, and her famous Angel Food cake, which she has given grandchildren lessons on how to make. As a farmer's daughter and wife, she spent a lot of her life milking cows, gathering eggs, gardening, canning, and sewing. Helene was an active member at the Dumont Reformed Church. She taught Sunday school for many years. She was a member of the Ladies Aide, Dorcas Society, church choir, and the American Legion Auxiliary. She worked as a CNA and medication aide at the Dumont Wellness Center, and also as a housekeeper at the Red Fox Inn located in Waverly, Iowa. She was an extrovert, thrived on going places, visiting others and doing things with her friends and family. Her car could always be spotted tooling through Dumont full of women heading to local events, school activities, serving at church, "500" card parties, or going out to eat. She was always game for whatever someone asked or needed. Her answer to a question would frequently be "let's go!" This attitude and personality allowed Helene to make lots of friends, know lots of people, and travel. She traveled all over the USA visiting family and friends, enjoyed going on a cruise with family, took yearly trips to Valleyfair and Adventureland, and traveled multiple times to Germany to visit relatives. Helene lived her life largely, full of love, energy, and strength. She is finally pain-free in Heaven and celebrating being reunited with her family and friends. She will be deeply missed and forever in our hearts. Helene is survived by her daughter Diane (Lyle) Noelting of Cedar Falls, daughter Bonnie (Verle) Hearn of Knoxville, Tennessee, son Dennis (Deb) Mennen of Dumont, daughter Denise George of Lakeville, Minnesota, grandchildren Ivy Mennen, Olivia (Ehren) Layton, Jessica (Taylor) Rettig, Alexa (Philipp) Hoeltermann, Macala (Michael) Donnelly, Lyn (Steve) Machacek, Lisa (Blake) Vardaman, Darci (Todd) Shoemaker, Janene (Jason) Nordin, Kim (Ken) Graham, Matthew (Rosie) Hearn, Kyle George and Cody George, twenty-seven great-grandchildren, sisters Gerda Thran and Berdene (Paul) Miller, along with many nieces and nephews and their families. She was preceded in death by her parents Anna and Nanne, husband Edward, sister Janet Kiefer and brother Bernard Franken.

Tributes

Helene Gesine Mennen

February 11, 1927 - July 12, 2019