Helen Marie Tjebkes

May 5, 1916 - February 8, 2012

Helen Marie (Wubbena) Tjebkes, 95, of Allison, Iowa, passed away on February 8, 2012, at the Rehabilitation Center of Allison in Allison, Iowa. She was born on May 5, 1916, in Aredale, Iowa, the daughter of Frank and Mary (Sherburne) Rector. Helen graduated from Aredale High School and was united in marriage to Henry Wubbena on May 25, 1934. Henry died in June of 1969. On December 26, 1971, Helen was married to Henry Tjebkes. He died in 1998. Helen worked as a cook at the nursing home in Allison for many years. She was a member of Trinity Reformed Church in Allison and was a Sunday school teacher. At the time of her death, she was the oldest member of the church. Helen enjoyed knitting, doing word search puzzles, traveling, reading the Bible before meals, and caring for her many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren. She is survived by three children, Duane Wubbena of Dumont, Iowa, Darwin (Norma) Wubbena of Allison, Iowa, and Myrna Prange of Ankeny, Iowa, a step daughter, Zelda (Bruce) Kellum of Waverly, Iowa, sixteen grandchildren, thirty five great grandchildren, and thirteen great great grandchildren. Helen was preceded in death by her parents, two husbands, Henry Wubbena and Henry Tjebkes, a daughter in law, Laura Wubbena, a son in law, Brent Prange, a step daughter, Faith Ward, a grandson in law, Tom VanEllen, a great granddaughter, Stephanie VanEllen, three sisters and a brother. Burial will take place at Folkers Cemetery in rural Allison.