Helen Dressler

Helen Margaret Dressler, 100, of Anita, Iowa, passed away Friday, March 23, 2012, at the Heritage House in Atlantic.

Helen, the daughter of William J. Clark and Iva Mae (Postier) Clark, was born in Owatonna, Minnesota, September 16, 1911. In 1918 she moved with her parents to Plainview, Texas, for a year, then to Hale Center, Texas. She graduated from Hale Center High School as valedictorian of her 1928 class. She attended West Texas University at Canyon, Texas, for one year. In 1935 she came to Iowa and worked for a year, then entered Iowa State University graduating in 1939 with a BS degree.

She taught in Elkader, Iowa, High School for one year. In June 1940, she married Harry Dressler of Anita. In 1942 she began substituting in the local school and joined the faculty in 1944. When Harry's health failed she resigned in 1954. They spent 3 winters in Florida and 14 in Corpus Christi, Texas, where she taught 12 years as a substitute teacher at Miller High School. After Mr. Dressler died, she chose to remain in Anita because of her close relationship with the Don Huff family.


She enjoyed reading, hand work, flower gardening and visiting the elderly shut-ins. She was a 50 year member of the local Chapter of the PEO Sisterhood as well as a 50 year member of the United Methodist church and Methodist Sunday School.

Those surviving her are a sister, Vivian Rogers of Dallas, Texas; brothers, Elwyn Clark and his wife, Chloe of Lubbock, Texas, and Roger Clark of Bakersfield, California; 3 nieces; 3 nephews; 2 step-grandsons; 3 step-granddaughters; 12 step-great-grandchildren; many step-great-great-grandchildren; and close friends Don and Lila Huff of Anita.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry; her parents; a step-son, Arnold and wife Mildred Dressler; and a step-daughter, Evangeline and husband Eugene Henson.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Thursday, March 29, 2012, at United Methodist Church in Anita. Visitation with family will be from 5:00-7:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 28, 2012, at Hockenberry Family Care in Anita. Burial will be in the Plainview Cemetery in Plainview, Texas, at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 31, 2012.