Helma M. Ladwig

Helma Martha Ladwig was born November 4, 1921, at home in Soldier Township, Crawford County, Iowa, the daughter of Bernhardt and Amelia Krueger. She was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Soldier Township, and also confirmed there on April 14, 1935. She received her eighth grade graduation in Soldier Township on August 19, 1936.
On March 7, 1940, Helma was united in marriage with Wm. Ladwig at the Zion Lutheran Parsonage. Their union was blessed with 8 children and 65 years of marriage. They farmed for several years, later she worked at various cafes in Denison and Dow City. She was a cook at the bowling alley, Lucky Lanes. Later they owned and operated a tavern (Helma’s Place) for 10 years. She worked at Denison Care Center for 14 years, retiring in 1991. In later years, she helped out at the Senior Center.
In early years, she liked to bowl and go dancing, later she enjoyed playing cards and bingo. She also enjoyed cooking, baking, crafts and socializing with family and friends. She was a very loving and caring mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, who loved her family and was happiest surrounded by her family. She loved it when they would all gather for special occasions.
She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Denison. Since October of 2015, Helma made her home at Eventide where her death occurred Tuesday, February 14, 2017. At the time of her death, she had been blessed with 95 years, 3 months and 10 days.
Helma was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, William on April 9, 2005; her brothers: Lester, Martin, Adolph, Arthur, and Edward and their wives, and Loren; and son-in-law, Gene Bretey.
Those remaining to cherish her memory include: four sons: Larry and his wife, Annie, Bill, Gary and his wife, Nancy, and Glen and his wife, Maralee; four daughters: Judy, Carol and her husband, Gale, Donna and Debra and her husband, Adam; sixteen grandchildren: Laurie, Larry Jr., Lonnie, David, Derrick, Daniel, Dustin, Tina, Tammy, Travis, Barry, Molly, Jacob, Justin, Paul, and Alex; two step-grandchildren: Deb and Denny; twenty-four great-grandchildren: Zachery, Allison, Vanessa, Austin, Collin, Hudson, Tripp, Whitney, Elliot, Mable, Jaxon, Evan, Brooke, Autumn, Nick, Megan, Josh, Micaela, Tyler, Carter, Katelyn, Madisyn, Kylie and Mercedes; several nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.