Helen Fulk

Helen Fulk passed away on December 12, 2018, at Prairie Vista Village in Altoona, Iowa. She was born in Clarinda, Iowa on February 14, 1921, to Charlie and Anna Shaffer. She graduated from Clarinda High School and Clarinda Junior College. In 1946 she married Kenneth Fulk. They and their five daughters lived in Clarinda and in 1963 moved to Des Moines when Ken accepted the job as Manager of the Iowa State Fair. In 1976 Helen and Ken moved to Costa Mesa, California and stayed in California until 2003 when Helen moved back to Des Moines.

Helen is survived by her five daughters: Sandra Newton (Bill) Des Moines, Jennifer Desmond (John) Portland, OR, Bobbie Grammer (Chip) Fayetteville, NC, Connie Boesen (Ted) Des Moines, Patricia Findley (Peter) New York, NY. She is also survived by 7 grandchildren: Eric Newton (Stacie), Brian Newton (Shannon), Kate Hays (John), Lesley Olson (Mario Zebic), Jennie Grammer, Lauren Sullivan (James), and Andrea Murray (Phillip Klinkner) and 11 great grandchildren: Grant, Kenzie, Emma & Josie Newton, Oliver & Alana Hays, Felix & Max Zebic, Nikayla, Brooke & Carter Sullivan. She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth in 2003, her sisters, Mildred and Lucille, and her parents.

Her career started as a telephone operator in Clarinda. She then went to Washington, D.C. during the war. There she worked at the FBI where she had many interesting stories about her work. She worked the night shift while at the FBI and from those hours she was always acclimated to a night schedule and was never a morning person after that! After raising her daughters she worked for the American Cancer Society organizing their fund raising efforts in Central Iowa. Helen continued working in fund raising for cancer research when she and Kenneth moved to California until she retired.

She spent her last years in Des Moines close to family where she continued her joy of shopping at Younkers and purchasing clothes, shoes and especially Estee Lauder cosmetics. Her phone was her connection to all of her family and friends and she always looked forward to hearing from everyone.

Her family would like to thank the staff at Prairie Vista Village and the Suncrest Hospice team for the excellent care given to our mother. Memorial contributions may be given to the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation – PO Box 57130, Des Moines, IA 50317. Services will be held on Friday, December 21st at Central Presbyterian Church in Des Moines. Visitation will start at 9:30 a.m. followed by a service at 11:00 a.m.

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