Mary Ann Helmrichs, 91, of Edgewood, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, September 3, 2022, at the Edgewood Convalescent Home in Edgewood. She was born on July 7, 1931, on the Meisgeier farm near Arlington, the daughter of Donald Carl and Adelia Marie (Glass) Meisgeier. Mary Ann attended school near Taylorsville, then Randalia, and Dundee, before graduating from Oneida High School with the class of 1948, as class valedictorian and class president. Mary Ann enjoyed playing basketball, being in school plays, and working in the school office during her high school years.
Following graduation, Mary Ann worked in the office at the Maquoketa Valley Rural Electric Cooperative in
Anamosa for two years, often traveling back on weekends by train. Her first position was clerk and later moved to department secretary for the maintenance department.
On November 5, 1950, Mary Ann was united in marriage to Dean Helmrichs at First Lutheran Church in Manchester. Five sons were born to this union. Mary Ann and Dean farmed first on the Helmrichs family farm near Oneida before moving to a farm near Edgewood, then to a farm near Manchester. In January 1973, they purchased a farm between Edgewood and Strawberry Point. They farmed there until their retirement in 2003 when they purchased a home in Edgewood. In 2013 Mary Ann and Dean moved to Lincolnwood Assisted Living in Edgewood. Mary Ann worked alongside Dean during their entire farming career. Mary Ann enjoyed gardening and feeding and watching the birds.
Survivors include her five sons, Roger (Jody) Helmrichs of Dundee, Keith (Toni) Helmrichs of Arvada, Colorado, Bruce Helmrichs of Edgewood, Scott (Jill) Helmrichs of Monona, and Todd (Julie) Helmrichs of Ida Grove; eight grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and a sister-in-law, Barbara (Robert) Lamprecht of Evansdale; and several nieces and nephews.
Mary Ann was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Dean on September 11, 2018; and three brothers,
William, Kenneth, and Rollo Meisgeier.
Mary Ann’s family would like to thank Lincoln Wood Assisted Living, Edgewood Convalescent Home, and Care
Initiatives Hospice for their years of caring for Mary Ann.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Mission in Christ Lutheran Church, Strawberry Point, or Lincolnwood Assisted Living / Edgewood Convalescent Home, or Care Initiatives Hospice.
Online condolences may be sent to www.leonard-mullerfh.com.
Funeral Service: 10:30 a.m., on Thursday, September 8, 2022, at Mission in Christ Lutheran Church in Strawberry Point, Iowa, with Pastor Gary Burkhalter officiating.
Visitation: 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., on Wednesday, September 7, 2022, at Leonard-Muller Funeral Home in Strawberry Point, Iowa. Friends may also call one hour before the service at the church on Thursday.
Inurnment: Oakland Cemetery – Manchester, Iowa
