Helen Kopaska

Helen Kopaska, 84, of Stuart, Iowa, (formerly of Adair) passed away Friday, November 7, 2008, at the Stuart Community Care Center.

Helen Caroline Larsen was born on December 4, 1923, near Kimballton, Iowa, the daughter of Andrew and Matilda (Otzen) Larsen. She attended country school near Poplar, Iowa, and then the family moved to Guthrie Center where she continued her education through the eighth grade. Helen held a variety of jobs in both Guthrie Center and Coon Rapids prior to her marriage.

On January 3, 1942, she married Albert John Kopaska in Marysville, Missouri. In April she joined him in South Carolina where he was stationed in the United States Army. After Albert returned from overseas in 1944, they farmed near Coon Rapids for 10 years. While living there two children were born, James Allen and Janet Kay. In 1955 they purchased a farm north of Adair.

Helen and Albert were members of the New Bethel Methodist Church. After it closed they were very active in the moving of the church building to the Guthrie County Historical Museum in Panora. She is currently a member of the United Methodist Church in Adair.

She enjoyed flowers, gardening, crocheting and her grandchildren. Helen belonged to the Happy Hour neighborhood club for many years.

Helen is survived by her son, Allen Kopaska and his wife, Barb of Pella, Iowa; her daughter, Jan Mueller and her husband, Gary of Adair, Iowa; her grandchildren, Jeff Kopaska and his wife, Kristy of Ames, Iowa, Jennifer Van Oord and her husband, Richard of Springfield, New Brunswick, Canada, Jeanine Broek and her husband, Craig of Glen Rock, New Jersey, Jim Kopaska of Oskaloosa, Iowa, Chris Mueller of Ireton, Iowa, and Meridith Anderson and her husband, Mark of Clinton, Iowa, and Dustin Mueller of Des Moines, Iowa; her great grandchildren, Alexa and Cassandra Kopaska, Jack and Jacob Van Oord, Sam and Brynn Mueller, and Emma and Graeme Anderson; her brother-in-law, Maynard Reece of Coon Rapids, Iowa; her sister-in-law, Gladys Larsen of Coon Rapids, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Albert John Kopaska; her brothers, Elmer, Lawrence and Harold Larsen; and her sisters, Viola Vincent and Leona Reece.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, November 15, 2008, at the United Methodist Church in Adair with the Reverend Lynn Gardner officiating.

Burial will be in the Sunnyhill Cemetery in Adair, Iowa.

Visitation will be from 1:00 to 8:00 p.m., Friday, November 14, 2008, with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., at the Hockenberry-Mullen Funeral Home in Adair.

Memorials may be made to the Stuart Community Care Center, Stuart, Iowa, or to Iowa Hospice, 5399 Chimra Road, Panora, Iowa 50216.