Helen Bernice (Unkel) Sauer

Helen B. Sauer
Bennett, Iowa – Helen Berniece Sauer, 94, formerly of Bennett, died peacefully with her family by her side on Thursday, February 2, 2023 at The Pines in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin.

Funeral Service and Catholic Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, February 9, 2023, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Wilton, Iowa. Cremation rites will follow the funeral mass with burial at a later date in the Harker  Cemetery, Sweetland Iowa.  Visitation will be from 4 - 7 p.m. on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, at St. Mary’s, Wilton and one hour prior to the service at St. Mary's Catholic Church. A memorial fund in Helen’s name will be made at St Jude Children’s Research Hospital and online condolences may be shared at www.fryfuneralhome.com.  The family would like to thank Kevin and Mary of Agrace Hospice for their loving care and also the amazing staff and residents of The Pines. A special thank you goes to her devoted brother, Joe, and daughter Roberta who sat by her side daily.

Helen was born on March 12, 1928, in Rochester, MN, and was the daughter of Henry J. and Genevieve H. (Bermel) Unkel. Helen was a graduate of St Mary’s Catholic School, Muscatine Iowa.  Helen was united in marriage to Robert William Sauer in the Zion Lutheran Church in Davenport on December 12, 1948.

Helen was a homemaker, grandma, great grandma and wife. She enjoyed attending her daughters and grandchildren’s school events and was affectionally known to many kids as “Grandma Sauer”

Helen loved her family, farm, and was a friend to all. Robert and Helen farmed and raised their family near Bennett for 64 years. For 27 of those years, they wintered in Leesburg, Florida, where they enjoyed fishing and playing cards. They spent a lifetime of sharing their love for each other with their family and friends. Helen was a faithful member of the Catholic Church.

Helen is survived five daughters, Sue (Gary) Deerberg of Clarence, Bonni (Doug) Jeffries of , Versailles, Kentucky, Sandy (Richard) Lauer of Galena, Ohio, Shari (Rick) Meyer of New Liberty, and Roberta (Ken) Myers of Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin; 15 grandchildren, Michael (Janet) Shotwell, Jonathan(Kylee) Deerberg, Aaron (Heather) Koch, Jenny (Matt) Finley, Andrew (Oliva) Koch, Matthew (Liz) Koch, Katie (Joey) Beard, Robert (Michelle) Lauer, Tom (Abbey) Lauer, Jackee (Marques) Ellis, Devin (Lindsey) Meyer, Dustin (Tess) Meyer, Ashley (Alex) Theobald, Marie (Matthew) Neece, and Allison (Kaleb) Moore; and twenty-one great-grandchildren. Her brother Joe Unkel, Peel, AR and two sisters Mary Sauer of Muscatine and Delores Wilson of Iowa City and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, three brothers George, Hank and Frank and a sister Ann Vevera.