Helen Wikel

Helen H. Wikel, 88, of Mt. Pleasant, IA, passed away Monday, May 12, 2008, at the Park Place Long Term Care Unit. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 15, 2008, at 1:00 p.m., at the Olson - Powell Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Robert David officiating. The family will greet friends, one hour prior to the service, beginning at 12 noon until 1:00 p.m., at the Memorial Chapel on Thursday. Burial will be in the Forest Home Cemetery. Memorials have been established to Great River Hospice. Born November 30, 1919, in Bellevue, IA, Helen Hazel was the daughter of Elmer Leo and Julia Hazel Tomlinson Emerson. She grew up in Marshalltown, IA, and graduated from Marshalltown High School in 1937. On October 22, 1939, she married Neil Wikel at the Christian Church in Marshalltown. Following their marriage the couple moved to Mt. Pleasant. He preceded her in death on December 3, 1993. Helen was a homemaker. She was a former member of the First United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women. Later she joined the First Presbyterian Church in Mt. Pleasant. An avid golfer, Helen was also active in the Horticulture Division of the Women's Club. She enjoyed playing cards, and was a lover of art and poetry. Helen was a member of the V.F.W. Auxiliary and New Life Group. Helen is survived by two sons, Ronald (Jo Ann) Wikel of Cape Girardeau, MO, and Bill (Lea) Wikel of Oklahoma City, OK; one daughter, Susan (Jeff) Coppernoll of College Station, TX; and two brothers, Ralph (Barbara) Emerson of Phoenix, AZ, and Don (Bonnie) Emerson of Marshalltown, IA. Also surviving are seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Along with her husband, Neil, she was preceded in death by her parents, one sister, Phyllis Everets, and one brother, Kenneth Emerson.