Helen J. Whannel
July 22, 2015
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Service Details
Helen J. Whannel, 79, passed away on July 22, 2015. Services will be held Thursday, July 30, 2015 at 11:30 AM at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines, IA with visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial will take place at Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter, IA.
Helen was born on November 27, 1935 in Ogden, IA, the daughter of Ralph and Audrey (Pentico) Hutchins. She graduated from Ogden High School and later from Simpson College. Helen married Donald Whannel on August 3, 1958 in the Jefferson Methodist Church. She originally taught elementary school from 1955 to 1973 in Jefferson then went on to teach in Urbandale from where she eventually retired. Helen was a member of Walnut Hills UMC and enjoyed genealogy, volunteering at the State Historical Library, and working at the Civic Center.
She is survived by her children, Kathy (Terry) Zoerb of Waynesville, OH and David Whannel of West Des Moines, IA; four grandchildren, Jon (Carly) Zoerb of Leesburg, VA, Terry Zoerb, Jr. of Xenia, OH, Nadia (Enoch) May of Fairborn, OH and Michael Zoerb of Waynesville, OH; four-great grandchildren, Madison and Parker Zoerb, and Aubrey and Nolan May. Helen was preceded in death by her loving husband of 55 years, Don; and her parents.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the family. Condolences may be expressed online at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.
Bruce C. Wright
08/09/2015
Helen was a one of a kind true lady. She will be missed by many friends as well as her family. The Ogden High School Class of 1953 will surely miss her wit, wisdom and gentleness at our gatherings. My wife Sandi joins me in extending our most sincere sympathy to her family and friends.
Meredith Smith
07/30/2015
Helen was a dear friend and such a caring excellent teacher. I was lucky to have taught with her at Valerius; we shared many laughs, stories, and helpful ideas over the years. My thoughts and prayers are with you, Kathy and David. I know she loved you and her grandkids so much. She was so appreciated and admired both during her teaching career and her volunteer genealogy work.
Amir Nakjiri
07/30/2015
My condolences to Kathy, David, Nadia, and all her family. Helen was a nice lady. God bless her soul.
Jody (Copeland) Lang
07/30/2015
Sincere sympathies...losing a mom like yours cannot be easy. As I remember, she was a model of a teacher while in Jefferson. Also, I have vague recollections of visiting your home. She reached out beyond the classroom...perhaps for Blue Birds or Campfire? May you all be comforted by rich memories.
Cindy Jones
07/29/2015
Your mom was one of the most kind and loving teachers we experienced in the Urbandale Schools. Two of our children were fortunate to have Mrs. Whannel in the second and third grades. We have a special legacy from her that seems to be a permanent fixture in our family now. Somehow, when our son, Tim, was in her class, she brought in or mentioned a dessert called "Death by Chocolate," and he procured a copy of that recipe. Now 26 years later, it is Tim's requested birthday "cake". As each of our children progressed through Rolling Green School, we would always visit with Mrs. Whannel. Then as high school graduations rolled around, your mom was high on the list of teachers to be invited to the open houses - and once again we had a chance to reconnect and visit when she came into our home. Our last visits with her were brief as we would greet her when we saw her at the Civic Center. She will always be remembered fondly as a teacher who made a loving and positive impact on our young students' lives.
Cynthia Rather Sielaff
07/29/2015
Miss Hutchins- my first grade teacher taught me the very first year of her professional career at the North Grade School in Jefferson. She was able to teach a very special little sight-impaired girl how to read by keeping me after school nightly for three weeks until I was able to be moved to the Blue Bird group. She taught all of us little first graders how to tell our right hand from our left hand. To this day, I can see her standing in the front of the class, facing the reading circle, and telling us that our left hand pointed to the court house and our right hand pointed to the lunch room. She also told John Knapper and me that we might want to check with our parents first before we got married since being married at six might present some problems.
When I graduated from college and began teaching first grade myself, it thrilled her so much that she blessed me with all of her teaching files. I used those files for years- and still have them to this day. I have been teaching for 46 years. I am a college instructor who is licensed as a reading diagnostician and clinician. I teach education majors how to teach reading. I also work with adult students who are enrolled in college and need to have their reading levels raised to college level so they can be successful. Her dedication to students has inspired me throughout my entire career. I have shared her dedication to me as a challenged student with my students more times than you can imagine.
I am so incredibly sorry for your families loss.The world lost a wonderful example of love,grace, dedication,and professionalism. She will be sorely missed.
Susan Jellinger
07/28/2015
Helen was a volunteer staple during the five years I worked at the State Historical Library. No matter the changes in staff, hours, procedures or policies, Helen helped maintain standards for excellence either when she sat at the reception/check in desk or when she was researching for the Iowa Legislators Project. Her work in delving the past will continue to serve the people of Iowa through the future.
My sympathy to her family and all the rest of us touched by her.
Janice Strawn
07/28/2015
Kathy and David and family,
I am so sorry to learn that your mom passed away. I taught school with her for a number of years and enjoyed her company. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Valerie & Duane Ogren
07/27/2015
So sorry to learn of Helen's passing. We became good friends through my many visits to the SHSI Library. Don graduated with Duane at JHS1949. Our prayers and sympathy to her family.
Lara Kramme
07/27/2015
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. I volunteered with Helen at the Historical Building for many years and so enjoyed my time with her. She was a very gracious and capable lady to work with.