Helen Bird

Helen Bird, 80, went to heaven on October 30, 2022, at her home in Des Moines, Iowa. She had been diagnosed with lung cancer in 2011 and was fortunate that it did not stop her from enjoying life. But it finally got her, like she always said it would.

She was born on April 19, 1942, in Boone, Iowa, to Clarence and Luella (Grabau) Schmidt. She grew up in Ogden, Iowa, and graduated from Ogden High School in 1960. After graduating from high school, she moved to Des Moines and began working at Northwestern Bell. She met Bill Bird, in Des Moines, got married and was welcomed by his family, and became Aunt Helen to many. They had three daughters, Christine, Kris, and Kyra.

She retired in 1995. After her retirement, she worked at Hy-Vee, McDonald’s, York Steak House, Denny’s, Wakonda Country Club, and the airport.

The things she enjoyed most were her sister-in-law lunches, visiting with hometown friends, old classmates, and telephone company friends, the Wednesday night gang, her good neighbors who were like family, and going to church. She made thousands of meatballs, countless birthday pies, and cream cheese mints for many occasions. We all will miss her festive holiday decorations, and birthday and anniversary phone calls.

Helen is survived by her children, Kris (Job) Cooper and Kyra Eidbo; her grandchildren, who affectionally call her Grandma Honey, Zach (Alexis) Cooper, Brady (Karli) Cooper, Mackenzy (Anthony) Caligiuri, and Cole Eidbo; great-grandchildren, Weston, Wyatt, Callan, Ayla Cooper and another one arriving this winter; siblings, Richard Schmidt, Kenny (Nancy) Schmidt, Greg Schmidt and Cynthia (Paul) Gilbert; sisters-in-law, Patricia Sirfus, Shirley Bird and Beverly Kaili; son-in-law, John Eidbo; stepdaughter, Connie Jo Gahafer and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her daughter Christine; her parents; ex-husband, Bill Bird; sisters-in-law, Lorraine Schmidt, Sonja Schmidt, Marple Schmidt Cano, and Shirley Mason; brothers-in-law, Richard Sirfus, Jim Bird, Bill Mason, and David Kaili; step-daughter Cindy Bird Michael; and great-grandson Henry James Cooper.

The family will greet guests from 5-7 pm, Sunday, November 6, 2022, at Hamilton’s Southtown Funeral Home, 5400 SW 9th Street. Rosary will follow the visitation at the funeral home. A Mass will be held at 10 am, Monday, November 7, 2022, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, 15 Indianola Road. For those unable to attend in person, the family invites you to join them virtually through the link in her obituary found on Hamilton’s website.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family where a donation will be made, in her honor, to St. Anthony’s Catholic Church or Ogden Community Scholarship Foundation.

Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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