Helen D. Miller

Helen Dorothy Miller, 91, of Clear Lake, died Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2015, at Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 1001 9th Ave. S., Clear Lake, with the Rev. Fr. John Gossman officiating.  A funeral luncheon will be held in St. Patrick’s Fellowship Hall immediately following services.  Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery, in Algona, Iowa.

Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake. A Scriptural Wake Service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday evening at the funeral home.

Family suggests memorial contributions to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation or Hospice of North Iowa.

Helen was born Sept. 22, 1923, the daughter of Frederick and Gertrude (Kaschmitter) Kollasch in Whittemore, Iowa.  She married Andrew L. Miller on June 14, 1944, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, in Whittemore.

A high-school graduate of the Presentation Academy in Whittemore, Helen worked as a legal secretary prior to meeting Andy and getting married.  She then primarily stayed at home helping on the farms in Algona and Clear Lake, rearing their nine children.  At the age of 50, Helen attended North Iowa Area Community College and received a certificate in bookkeeping.  She worked for Woodford Wheeler Lumber Company until retiring in 1993.  She and Andy also owned and operated the Lake Café in Clear Lake, and later managed Lakeland Apartments for several years.

Helen was an active member of Wa-Tan-Ye Club and St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.  She participated in the choir, Ladies’ Circle, baked pies for the annual Irish Stew, and made Baptismal garments for the newly baptized.  She was devoted to family and children, and loved teaching them core values.  She liked making crafts, any type of needlework, and quilting.  She enjoyed bowling, gardening, flowers, playing cards, completing puzzles and dancing.

Helen is survived by nine children, Robert (Edith) Miller, Jerry (Mary) Miller, Gloria (LeRoy) DeBower, Beverly (Larry) Miller, David (Christine) Miller, Jean (Joe) Rieck, John (Elizabeth) Miller, Ted (Wendy) Miller, and Patricia (Bruce) Wagner; 23 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; three siblings, Ruth Bouc, Norma (Richard) Lane, and Mark (Alice) Kollasch; a brother-in-law, Edward (JoElla) Miller; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 64 years; two infant daughters, Mary and Trudy; and four siblings, Beatrice Miller, Milo, Glen, and Msgr. Louis Kollasch.

Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel was in charge of arrangement.