Helen Schlenker

Helen M. Schlenker, 95, passed away peacefully in the early morning of August 8th, 2016, at Sunny View Care Center in Ankeny.

Helen Marie Mefford was born February 1st, 1921 at home near Highland Center, Iowa, to Rex Eli and Vera F. (Dickens) Mefford. She attended country school and graduated from Hedrick High School in 1939. She then graduated from Capital City Commercial College in Des Moines.

Helen worked at Iowa Power and Light Company as a bookkeeper and comptometer operator until her marriage to David J. Schlenker on May 28th, 1949. Together, Dave and Helen operated a dairy farm east of Ankeny, Iowa where they raised their children Linda and David Lee. After Dave’s death in 1981, she continued to assist her son for another ten years.

Helen loved to work in her vegetable and flower gardens. It was her pleasure to share food and flowers with her family and friends. She was a good seamstress in her earlier years and later sewed charity comforters and hundreds of book bags for AFUMC.

Helen was an active member of the Ankeny First United Methodist Church for 65 years, participating in the Martha Circle. She was also a member of the Greenwood Community Club.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband, David J.; her parents; and her three sisters, Ruth Pearson, V. Maxine Schmidt, and Donna Hunnell. She is survived by her children, Linda Schlenker of Bondurant, Iowa, and David Lee (Sheryl) Schlenker of Ankeny, Iowa; her brother Earl (Joan) Mefford of Hedrick, Iowa; her brother-in-law Hal Hunnell of Ankeny, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held Wednesday evening, August 10th, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 11th, at Ankeny First United Methodist Church - Uptown, 206 SW Walnut Street in Ankeny, with burial to follow at Oralabor Cemetery in Ankeny.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Ankeny First United Methodist Church 206 SW Walnut Street, Ankeny, Iowa 50023. Please consider a memorial contribution in lieu of flowers.

Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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