Helen Frances Faber, 93, of Manly, Iowa, passed away April 17, 2024 at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center in Mason City, Iowa.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 am Monday, April 22, 2024 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 410 North Broadway, Manly, Iowa 50456. Burial will take place at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held the night prior from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm with a scriptural wake service beginning at 6:00pm at Bride Colonial Chapel, 110 E Spring St., Manly, IA 50456.
Memorials may be dedicated to Sacred Heart Catholic Church or the American Legion Auxiliary Post 110.
Helen was born July 10, 1930 in Rockwell, Iowa; daughter of Roy and Ruth (Pope) Scholl. She graduated from Sacred Heart Catholic School with the class of 1948. She was united in marriage to Fred Faber April 23, 1949 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Rockwell. To this union, they were blessed with two children, Beverly and Thomas. Early in their marriage, they farmed in the Sheffield area before moving to Hanlontown in 1954. As the family grew Helen and Fred expanded the farm and moved to the Kensett area. Upon Fred’s death in 1999 Tom and Justin took over the family farm however Helen was sure to keep tabs on daily activities and operations. Helen was also fond of reminiscing about the days she worked as a telephone operator.
Helen loved many things. Faith and Farming were passions that she enjoyed with her family and friends. Conversations often started with, Have you had rain? How do the crops look? Are you done calving? She always had a productive garden and enjoyed supplying friends and neighbors with the fresh fruits and vegetables. She did not tolerate waste. She made sure to teach her daughter and family how to keep a house, iron, and how to preserve food including canning, and freezing of produce. This was often a family affair and there were many days in the summer where she would mastermind filling freezers and pantries. She was not someone who minced words, she spoke truth and practiced tough love. She loved to dance, play cards and travel. She and Fred would spend many nights together at the Surf Ballroom dancing the night away. Helen rarely missed an opportunity to dance and to enjoy the company of others. Helen was an avid card player. Her favorite card games included Texas Hold’em, 500 and cribbage. These past few years she was learning bridge and loved it. She loved to gamble and refused to play if there wasn’t cash on the table. Even great-grandkids were told to find quarters or negotiate dimes in order to enjoy a few hands of cribbage. She hated to lose. Helen and Fred began traveling to TX in the early 80’s and enjoyed their TX family and the warm weather. Helen loved seeing the world and new places. Places she and Fred traveled included many European countries, the Holy Lands, the Caribbean, and Hawaii to name just a few. She loved learning about local cultures and seeing new sights. After Fred’s passing Helen and her daughter Bev took an annual trip some of those trips included Alaska where she may be one of the oldest zip liners to tackle the course, Niagara Falls, and several trips to the River. Family and community meant everything to Helen. She enjoyed many a card game as well as cooking and entertaining for her family and friends. Her house was a central hub for food and entertainment. She made sure that the 4th of July at the Farm was always a holiday to remember and hosted many carolers while in TX. She will be remembered for her sense of humor, quick wit, and always having to have the last word. Many will fondly remember sparing words with her and how no one was immune from her ribbing. To the end, her mind was ever focused on business; she never quite retired from farming. Her faith was sound as she devoted many years as a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Those left to cherish her memory include her daughter, Bev Faber of Manly; grandchildren, Jennifer (Travis) Malone, Justin (Beth) Faber, and Ann (Chris) Doane; great-grandchildren, Matthew Doane William Doane, Jackson Faber, Brynlee Faber, Amanda Malone, Fred Malone, Wade Malone, Jacob Malone, Emma Miller, and Isaac Miller; step-grandchildren, Jason (Chantelle) Rollene, Ryan (Amy) Rollene, Melissa Acheson; daughter-in-law, Irene Faber; as well as many nieces, nephews, friends and extended family.
Preceding her in death are her husband, Fred; son, Tom; granddaughter, Sara Miller; parents Roy and Ruth; and siblings, David Scholl, Jim Scholl, and Alice Scholl.
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