Helen Deloris Pelz
March 19, 1912 — August 8, 2014
Helen Deloris (Starr) Pelz, 102, a resident of Northbrook Manor Care Center, Cedar Rapids, died Friday, August 8, 2014, at the care center. The family will greet friends from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday, August 11, 2014, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Marion, with a prayer service beginning at 4:00 p.m. Graveside Service: 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 12, 2014, at Blairsburg Cemetery, Blairsburg, Iowa.
Survivors include her children, Doris Mellinger, Curtis (Beverly) Pelz, and Claudette (Jack) Willman; 12 grandchildren, Kathie Lane, Mary James, Jody McMurrin, Susan Rompot, Lori Rogers, Heidi Fields, Renee Carey, Kevin Pelz, Steven Mellinger, Don Mellinger, Greg Mellinger, Kris Mellinger; 25 great-grandchildren; and 15 great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews from Nashua and Blairsburg.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years; parents; sister, Hazel Wilson; brothers, John and Bill Starr; and daughter, E. Deloris Haars.
Helen was born March 19, 1912, in Macomb, IL, the daughter of John and Elva (Kline) Starr. She was married to Welston Pelz on February 11, 1937, in Sioux Falls, SD. During WWII, Helen was a seamstress for JC Penny’s. She was also a waitress at the Boone Docks in Blairsburg for many years. Helen and Welston had a home in Ontario, Canada, that Welston, Curtis, and Wendell built in 1965. They spent many summers there during their retirement years. Helen moved from Ames to Marion in 1995, when she joined the Senior Center where she enjoyed playing cards, Bingo, and dancing. She also enjoyed crocheting and quilting. Helen was loved and will be greatly missed.
Survivors include her children, Doris Mellinger, Curtis (Beverly) Pelz, and Claudette (Jack) Willman; 12 grandchildren, Kathie Lane, Mary James, Jody McMurrin, Susan Rompot, Lori Rogers, Heidi Fields, Renee Carey, Kevin Pelz, Steven Mellinger, Don Mellinger, Greg Mellinger, Kris Mellinger; 25 great-grandchildren; and 15 great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews from Nashua and Blairsburg.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years; parents; sister, Hazel Wilson; brothers, John and Bill Starr; and daughter, E. Deloris Haars.
Helen was born March 19, 1912, in Macomb, IL, the daughter of John and Elva (Kline) Starr. She was married to Welston Pelz on February 11, 1937, in Sioux Falls, SD. During WWII, Helen was a seamstress for JC Penny’s. She was also a waitress at the Boone Docks in Blairsburg for many years. Helen and Welston had a home in Ontario, Canada, that Welston, Curtis, and Wendell built in 1965. They spent many summers there during their retirement years. Helen moved from Ames to Marion in 1995, when she joined the Senior Center where she enjoyed playing cards, Bingo, and dancing. She also enjoyed crocheting and quilting. Helen was loved and will be greatly missed.
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