This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/zk.2ADI/2171.1 Message Board Post: Helen Marie Herkenrath 04/05/2006 Helen Marie Herkenrath, 87, died peacefully at her home March 22 surrounded by family. Funeral services were held March 25 at St. Mary Our Lady of Fatima at Portsmouth with Rev. John Dorton officiating. Casket bearers were Dan Bruck, Mark Herkenrath, Phil Belder, Hassan Malley, J.J. Herkenrath and Michael Johnson. Honorary casket bearers were Patrick Johnson, Keith Bruck and Mohammed Malley. Interment was at the St. Mary's Cemetery at Portsmouth. Helen, the daughter of Matt and Margaret Sonntag Herbst, was born Aug. 25, 1918 in Panama. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Panama. Helen attended St. Mary's Catholic School in Panama. She was united in marriage to Philip Herkenrath Oct. 9, 1935 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Panama and to this union eight children were born. After their marriage, they made their home in Portsmouth where they owned and operated their own business. Besides helping run the business, Helen had a full-time job of running the home and nurturing and raising their children. She enjoyed flowers, gardening and reading. Helen was a true inspiration of how to live life and how to leave it, as all who knew her knows. She will be remembered by those she touched as a devoted sister, loving wife, mother and grandmother. Those roles were her greatest job and achievement in life. She will also be remembered as a loving friend and neighbor to many. She was a long-time resident! of Portsmouth and member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and was highly respected in both. Survivors include her children Philip Herkenrath and his wife Genevieve of Neola, Darlene Johnson of Stockton, Calif., Richard Herkenrath and his wife Karen of Elk Horn, Neb., Sharon Belder of Los Angeles, Calif., Linda and her husband Nick Bruck of Bettendorf, John Herkenrath and his wife Mary of Fremont, Neb., and Jane and her husband Audeh Malley of Phoenix, Ariz.; 19 grandchildren; 35 great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews and many special friends and acquaintances. posted with permission from: Logan Herald-Observer Zach Ahrens, Publisher 107 N. Fourth Ave., Suite 3 Logan, IA 51546 Phone (712) 644-2705 Woodbine Twiner Zach Ahrens, Publisher 509 Walker St. Woodbine, IA 51579 Phone (712) 647-2821