- She was born June 12, 1918 at Fifield, Iowa in Marion County, the daughter of Cornie and Beryle Reynolds VanDenBerg. She attended White Breast Rural School at Fifield, Iowa.
She graduated with the class of 1936 from Pella High School. She taught in the rural school, Summit at Otley, Iowa 1938-1939. Helen was united in marriage with Donald Douwstra at Otley Reformed Church on November 1, 1939. To this union two children were born; Donna Kae and Stanton Craig.
She worked in the family business of Douwstra Wholesale Co. 1963-1975. Helen took care of her mother-in-law, Margaret Douwstra for three years. She taught ceramics in a ceramic shop in her home for several years.
Helen served as Past President and Secretary of Pella Legion Auxiliary, was a member of First Baptist Church where she served as a Deaconess, taught sixteen years as a teacher in Sunday School, and served on several committees at church.
Helen was very artistic and enjoyed all kinds of crafts, sewing, knitting, woodcrafts and stain glass and refinishing furniture. Her family is blessed with so many beautiful works of Helen’s art.
She is survived by her son Craig and wife Beverly, son-in-law Gene DeHeer and five grandchildren. Blain DeHeer and wife Sue, Brice DeHeer, Jeremy Douwstra, Chad Douwstra and wife Julie, Kristi and her husband Mike Gauthier. Great grandchildren, Derrick, Alexis, Kaelie DeHeer, Kylie, Emily, Zachary, Alexander Douwstra, Joshua Galler, Colton, Brooklyn and Ashlyn Gauthier, niece Mikki VanDusseldorp, nephew Gregory VanDenBerg and several nieces and nephews and their spouses.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Cornie who died May 2, 1990 and Beryle who died July 28, 1989, daughter Donna Kae DeHeer died January 31, 1992 and her husband Donald died June 18, 1996. Her brother Wayne VanDenBerg and wife Jeanne. Also her husband’s family Simon and Margaret DeHaan Douwstra, Ben and Frances VanderHoek, Herman and Helen Douwstra.
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1918 - 2014 (96 jaar)
