Obituaries : Helen Margaret Curran Schrader

Helen Margaret Curran Schrader

Helen Margaret Curran Schrader

Helen Margaret Curran Schrader died Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2012, at the Vinton Lutheran Home. Born on Aug. 29, 1912, she celebrated her 100th birthday with family and friends this past August.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 29, at St. John Lutheran Church in Newhall with the Rev. Steven Rempfer officiating. Interment will be held at St. John Cemetery, near Newhall. Visitation will also be held at the church in Newhall from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

The daughter of Guy E. and Edna (Schultz) Curran, she was born in Perry, Iowa. Her family later moved to Cedar Rapids where Helen graduated from Grant High School with the January Class of 1931. She then entered nurses training at St. Luke’s Hospital and graduated in May 1934. She practiced private duty nursing for three years.

On Oct. 28, 1934, she was united in marriage to Vernon G. Schrader of Van Horne at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids. The couple lived in Cedar Rapids until1937, when they moved to Atkins. In 1941, they moved to a farm near Newhall. Helen quickly learned the joys of motherhood, became an active member of her church and community and learned about the hard work required of a farm wife.

She became the loving mother of three children, was a Sunday school teacher at St. John Lutheran Church and a member of the Lamp Lighters and Tabitha Society of the congregation; raised chickens, ducks and geese and helped in the fields. She also enjoyed membership in Eden Community Aid, Eden Farm Bureau, Newhall Senior Citizens and Newhall bowling leagues. Because of her talent, she served as assistant superintendent of the Needlework Department of the Benton County Fair for 24 years and entered her needlework at the fairs for 52 years. Knitting, crocheting, gardening, playing cards and collecting bears, antiques and dolls were her hobbies. Her large collection of dolls earned her the name “The Doll Lady.” Her greatest pleasure came from her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Helen is survived by her children, Joan Reinberg of Cedar Rapids, Joyce (Gene) Winsor Cole of Vinton, and Robert Schrader of Cedar Rapids; her grandchildren, Susan (Steve) Sands, Sandra (Marvin) Rathje, Kevin ( Teri) Winsor, Diana (Keith Bascom) West, Jeff (Lisa) Winsor, Barb Winsor, Bruce Schrader and Brian (Marla) Schrader; two stepgrandchildren, Valerie (Mark) Tichenor and Doug (Lisa) Cole; 20 great-grandchildren; six stepgreat-grandchildren; 10 great-great-grandchildren; and two stepgreat-great-grandchildren,

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Vernon on Jan. 3, 1996; her sons-in-law, Keith Winsor and Ernest Reinberg; her grandson, Mark Schrader; her brothers, Charles who died in infancy, and Guy and Kenneth Curran; her sisters-in-law, Viola Bobzien, Helma Gordon and Betty Curran; and her parents-in-law, George and Ellen Schrader.

A memorial fund has been established.

Phillips Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be left at:www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com.