Helen Siemer

Helen Odelia Siemer was born on June 2, 1922, in Westphalia, Iowa, to George and Anna (Schmitz) Langenfeld. Helen attended St. Boniface Westphalia School through the ninth grade.

On April 15, 1947, Helen married Raymond Feser. To this union, three children were born: Mary Jane, Randal, and Dean.

Helen worked for the Chicago Aurora Railroad in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, for several years. After returning home, Helen did housework for families with new babies. She also worked at Cronk’s and spent 10 years at Dubuque Packing doing quality control work.

Helen was an active member of St. Mary’s Church, where she led bingo for seven years, served as a lector, and was president of the Altar Society. She was also on the Dow City Community Club Board for several years.

After Ray passed away in 1972, Helen married Ben Siemer on March 23, 1979. The couple lived on the farm until 1997, when they moved to Dow City.

Helen loved to travel. She took trips to Germany and Italy and attended Mass celebrated by the Pope while she was in Rome. She also enjoyed many bus tours and spent lots of time in Las Vegas. Ben and Helen took many trips to Jamesport, Missouri, to spend time with the Amish.

Helen never quit working. She worked at Deb’s Deli for 14 years. She loved to bake, make BBQ sauce, pepper jelly, panis, and homemade candy to give to family and friends. She also loved to play the marble game of Aggravation with her family. Everyone she knew left with a smile.

She and several friends enjoyed taking meals once a month to friends and bringing treats to the nursing home in Dunlap.

Helen’s biggest passion in life was her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, some of whom called her “Grandma Cooker” because she always fed everyone who came to visit.

Helen passed away on September 2, 2026, at Gracewell in Denison, having attained the age of 104 years and 3 months. In addition to her parents, George and Anna Langenfeld, she was preceded in death by her husbands, Raymond Feser and Ben Siemer; her brothers and sisters, Althea and Edwin who passed away in infancy, Linus, Greg, Ray, Leo, Loly, Theresa, Irene, and Cleta.

She is survived by her children, Jane (Phil) Freund of Harlan; Randy (Pam) Feser of Logan, Utah; and Dean Feser of Rodney, Iowa; stepchildren, Richard Siemer (special friend Pat Blankman) and Barb (Ron) Kenkel, all of Dow City; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; great-great-grandchildren; sister, Odelia Coenon; and many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.