The Life of HELEN JUNE KRPAN
Helen June Krpan, age 96, of Des Moines, Iowa, died on Thursday, December 5, 2013, at Karen Acres Healthcare Center in Urbandale, Iowa.
Helen was born on June 10, 1917, in Klemme, Iowa, daughter of Henry and Katherine Nuehring. She was the oldest of five children and was raised on a farm in northern Iowa. After graduating from Belmond High School, she moved to Chicago, Illinois, where she met and married her husband of fifty-eight years, Steve Krpan. They settled in Des Moines where they raised their two sons.
During her life, she was a devoted and faithful member of Bethany Lutheran Church and St. Paul Lutheran Church of Des Moines and was an active member of the Croatian Fraternal Slavic Center and the Iowa VFW Ladies Auxiliary. She was a caring person with a strong work ethic and loved to give back to others. She and her husband were active in the Croatian community and they assisted many Bosnian families during their times of need. She was always reaching out, caring and comforting those who were ill and hurting.
Helen embraced life. She had many interests and loved to cook and bake to share with others, garden, and tend to her roses. Animals, especially dogs and small birds, held a special place in her heart. Her home was always a welcoming place for friends and family. She was a great listener, who would always enjoy engaging in lively discussions on current affairs and politics.
Helen had a strong faith and always lived her life in hope and love, and she will be deeply missed.
She is survived by her two sons, Nick (Lynne) Krpan, and Larry (Sheri) Krpan; grandchildren Lucas (Brooke) Krpan and Lauren (Justin) Constable; great-grandson, Kobe Krpan; sister LaVonne (Ernie) Call and family; and her special sister-in-law, Emma Liker and family; and multiple friends and loving extended family members. Helen was preceded in death by her husband Steve Krpan; parents Henry and Katherine Nuehring; sister Florence Hine; and brothers Donald and LuVerne Nuehring.
The family would like to thank and express gratitude to all of those who provided loving care to Helen; including her doctors and their staff and the staff at UnityPoint Hospice, WesleyLife Hospice Care, Wesley Adult Day Services and Karen Acres Healthcare Center.
A memorial service will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 10, 2013, at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa, with burial to follow at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery. The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.