Helen Marcine Dea, 99
Helen Marcine Dea, daughter of Henry and Prudence Rebekah (Cushing) Osbahr, was born on July 9, 1923, in rural Shelby, Iowa. She attended country school until the age of seven. After the death of her parents, Helen was raised by Emil and Hanna Meves of Avoca, Iowa, and attended Avoca Public Schools. She was a member of the Avoca High School Class of 1940.
On March 19, 1945, Helen married John Francis Dea in Papillion, Nebraska; their marriage was blessed by the Catholic Church in June 1945. Following John’s discharge from the service on August 2, 1946, the couple began farming south of Minden, Iowa. In 1950, they moved one mile south and continued to farm. In 1984, John and Helen retired to Shelby. Having raised most of her 12 children, Helen then worked for several years at the Copper Kettle Restaurant north of Minden.
Helen was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Neola, Iowa, where she liked to spend time quilting with other women of the church. She was a member of the Friendship Seniors Club in Shelby, and was known to be a good cook and baker; her fresh bread and cinnamon rolls were enjoyed by many. Helen was skilled at keeping a garden and canning produce to help feed her large family.
Helen M. Dea died on Thursday, January 12, 2023, at Prairie Gate in Council Bluffs, Iowa. She had reached the age of 99 years, 6 months, and 3 days.
Helen was preceded in death by her husband, John Francis Dea, on March 12, 2010; twin daughters, Diane and Delores Dea; three grandsons, John Dea, Trevor Dea, and Joshua Dea; five brothers, Henry Osbahr, Harold Osbahr, Orville Osbahr, Merle Osbahr, and Lloyd Osbahr; and two sisters, Ada Pauley and Evelyn Lang. She is lovingly remembered by 12 children, Marcine (Don) Blake of Stanton, Iowa, Robert (Tami Shellberg) Dea, John “Mike” (Sally) Dea, and James (JoAnne) Dea, all of Minden, Iowa, Patricia (Tom) Honeywell of Shelby, Iowa, Richard (Delorse) Dea of Ellington, Missouri, Rebecca Dyer of Carlisle, Iowa, Cecelia Dea of Des Moines, Iowa, Daniel Dea of Walnut, Iowa, Philip (Marie) Dea of Minden, Iowa, Laurie Dea of Shelby, Iowa, and William “Bill” Dea of Oakland, Iowa; one brother, Dean Krutzfeldt of Council Bluffs, Iowa; 36 grandchildren; 53 great-grandchildren; 20 great-great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.
A Wake Service and Rosary was held on Wednesday, January 18, 2023, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Neola, Iowa. Mass of Christian Burial was held on Thursday, January 19, 2023, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Neola, Iowa, with Father Jacob Epstein of Corpus Christi Parish – Queen of Apostles Catholic Church, Council Bluffs, Iowa, celebrating. Serving as musicians were JoAnne Dea, Rick Powell, and Dominick Woodraska. Honorary casket bearers were Helen’s loving grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. Active casket bearers were Kevin Dea, Kyle Dyer, Michael Dea, Dalton Dea, Bernard Honeywell, and Greg Nissen. Burial was in the St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery, Neola, Iowa. Memorials may be directed to the Avoca Public Library, Avoca, Iowa. The Burmeister-Johannsen Funeral Home, Inc., of Shelby, Iowa, assisted the family with arrangements. Condolences may be left online at www.burmeisterjohannsen.com.