Helen June Krpan
December 05, 2013
Helen June Krpan, age 96, of Des Moines, Iowa, died on Thursday, December 5, 2013, at Karen Acres Healthcare Center in Urbandale, Iowa.
Helen was born on June 10, 1917, in Klemme, Iowa, daughter of Henry and Katherine Nuehring. She was the oldest of five children and was raised on a farm in northern Iowa. After graduating from Belmond High School, she moved to Chicago, Illinois, where she met and married her husband of fifty-eight years, Steve Krpan. They settled in Des Moines where they raised their two sons.
During her life, she was a devoted and faithful member of Bethany Lutheran Church and St. Paul Lutheran Church of Des Moines and was an active member of the Croatian Fraternal Slavic Center and the Iowa VFW Ladies Auxiliary. She was a caring person with a strong work ethic and loved to give back to others. She and her husband were active in the Croatian community and they assisted many Bosnian families during their times of need. She was always reaching out, caring and comforting those who were ill and hurting.
Helen embraced life. She had many interests and loved to cook and bake to share with others, garden, and tend to her roses. Animals, especially dogs and small birds, held a special place in her heart. Her home was always a welcoming place for friends and family. She was a great listener, who would always enjoy engaging in lively discussions on current affairs and politics.
Helen had a strong faith and always lived her life in hope and love, and she will be deeply missed.
She is survived by her two sons, Nick (Lynne) Krpan, and Larry (Sheri) Krpan; grandchildren Lucas (Brooke) Krpan and Lauren (Justin) Constable; great-grandson, Kobe Krpan; sister LaVonne (Ernie) Call and family; and her special sister-in-law, Emma Liker and family; and multiple friends and loving extended family members. Helen was preceded in death by her husband Steve Krpan; parents Henry and Katherine Nuehring; sister Florence Hine; and brothers Donald and LuVerne Nuehring.
The family would like to thank and express gratitude to all of those who provided loving care to Helen; including her doctors and their staff and the staff at UnityPoint Hospice, WesleyLife Hospice Care, Wesley Adult Day Services and Karen Acres Healthcare Center.
A memorial service will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 10, 2013, at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa, with burial to follow at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery. The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Online remembrances and condolences are welcome at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.
Michael McMurry
12/14/2013
Nick & Larry: My condolences to you and your families. It is quite apparent that your mom lived an active and useful 96 years.
Wayne Wilson
12/10/2013
Nick and Larry and families
Sorry about your loss. Just read the obituary. Your mother was quite a lady.
Terry & Sharon Hobt
12/09/2013
Larry, Sheri and Lauren, Our thoughts and prayers are with your family during this difficult time. Larry Stougard notified us today and we share your grief.
Shelley Wall
12/09/2013
My thoughts and prayers are with this wonderful family! Helen was such a neat lady, always had a smile on her face.
Janice & Bill Fowler
12/09/2013
My favorite, Auntie Helen, you were truly loved for the beautiful person you were. I will miss you. Nick & Larry I am with you in spirit and grief.
Haroldine (Peach) West
12/08/2013
Larry, Sheri, and Lauren, My thoughts and prayers are with you for the loss of your Mother and Grandmother.
terry anderson & family
12/08/2013
we're so sorry for your loss we send our sympathy and let our prayers be with you and your family at this time.......
MARC HARDING
12/08/2013
Larry & Nick----sorry to hear you lost your mother. Sh sounds like a wonderful lady, as shown by the men she raised. My condolences.
Kelli Palazzo
12/08/2013
Grandma Krpan was one of the nicest and kindest human beings I have ever known.....she will be greatly missed and I am thinking of all of you at this difficult time....God Bless
Laurie (Schellhase) Gentner
12/07/2013
I am so sorry for your loss. Helen was such a warm and caring woman!! You all are in my thoughts and prayers!!!!
Sheila Sellers Romsey
12/06/2013
We were so sorry to hear of Helen's passing. I have such fond memories of times spent with her and my mother Marion in Helen's kitchen. She was indeed a great lady.