Helen Stakey

Funeral Mass: Monday, May 23, 2011, at 2:00 p.m. at the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Massena with burial in the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church Cemetery.

Family Visitation: Sunday, May 22, 2011, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Steen Funeral Home in Massena.

Scripture Service: Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m. at the Steen Funeral Home in Massena.

Memorials: To the Helen Stakey memorial fund to be established by the family.

Helen Lucille Stakey, daughter of John and Mary (Zierhut) Neiens was born March 19, 1923 in Wiota, Iowa. She passed away on May 19, 2011 at Colonial Manor in Anita at the age of 88. She grew up on a farm near Wiota, and played basketball at the state tournament. She graduated Valedictorian of her class in 1940.

On February 10, 1942, she married Leo Stakey of Massena, Iowa at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Wiota, Iowa. This union was blessed with three children: Sharon Elizabeth, Leo James and Margaret (Peg) Anne.

They lived in Cumberland for one year, where they started a Dairy business and expanded that business for 30 years after they moved to Massena. A large dairy herd, pasteurizing, bottling and delivering milk kept them busy those early years, along with raising a big garden and canning. Helen had a love for flowers, antiques, picnics, camping and going to the horse races. She always had time to bake and decorate cakes, arrange flowers, sew for friends and family and had large Sunday dinners. She had fun taking the grandkids camping and also attended as many of their activities as possible.

Her faith was the central part of her life. She attended daily Mass, worked with the Altar Society, sang in the choir and was a great model for her children.

She worked as a bank cashier for over 20 years in Massena. Leo and Helen spent many of their later years searching for and refinishing their large antique collection.

Helen & Leo were blessed to celebrate 65 years of marriage. This long devoted marriage was always an inspiration to their children and grandchildren.

She is survived by her three children, Sharon (Ken) Hunter of Lincoln, NE; Leo James "Jim" (Phyllis) Stakey of Massena and Margaret "Peg" (Jim) Hensley of Massena; eight grandchildren: Michael Stakey and wife, Marcie of Massena, Anne (Hunter) Sumner and husband, Dominic of Lincoln, NE, Theresa Hensley of Atlantic, Molly (Stakey) Crom and husband, Jeff of Tabor, Mark Hensley and wife, Jolene of Massena, David Hunter and wife, Jennie of Lincoln, NE., John Hensley and wife, Heather of Sergeant Bluff, IA., and Adam Stakey and wife, Teresa of Las Vegas, NV.; fourteen great-grandchildren: Derrek and Brandon Sumner, Elijah Hunter, Brett Stakey, Ellie and Lily Crom, Olivia, Whitney and James Stakey, Thomas, Nathan and Seth Hensley and Braden and Joleigh Hensley, a sister, Florence Christofferson of Atlantic, brother-in-law, Don Curry of Massena, sister-in-law, Shirley Stakey of Story City and many special nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Leo, her parents, John and Mary Neiens, her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Roy and Bertha Stakey, her brother, Joe Neiens and sister-in-law, Beverly, sisters, Dolores Curry and Ramona Weber, brother-in-law, Marvin Stakey, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Louis and Pauline Frank, and great-granddaughter, Faith Stakey.