Helen L Skubinna

Helen Lois Skubinna, age 84, died on September 7, 2010 at Sartori Hospital, Cedar Falls, Iowa.  She died after a brief illness.  Mrs. Skubinna was born Helen Lois Gadow, the daughter of Herman G. and Helen E. (Croft) Gadow of Maynard, Iowa.  She was born on June 20, 1926 at Maynard.  Helen was baptized at the Methodist Church in Maynard and later confirmed at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Waterloo.

Mrs. Skubinna attended elementary school and the Maynard High School for several years.  She was active on the Maynard baseball team and was employed at Raytheon Corporation Radio Division at Oelwein, Iowa until 1951.

On July 3, 1949, Helen married Leon A. Skubinna the son of Otto H. and Mabel M. Skubinna of Oelwein. The wedding took place at St. John's Lutheran Church at Des Moines, Iowa. The happy couple then briefly honeymooned at Clear Lake, Iowa before returning to Oelwein where they resided.

In 1954, Helen and Leon moved to Cedar Falls to be closer to Mr. Skubinna's employment, he then being the Purchasing Agent for the Universal Hoist Company, a large grain elevator manufacturer.  They had two children:  Martin and Robin.  The family moved to Hudson in 1964.  They remained in the small community, enjoying the peaceful surroundings until 1986, when they moved back to Cedar Falls and later retired there.

Mrs. Skubinna's hobbies included gardening, landscaping, collecting antiques, refurnishing furniture and fishing.  The Skubinna's owned a cabin at Clear Lake, Iowa for many years which Helen enjoyed greatly as a retreat from the pressures of everyday life.   She was known as an honest and trustworthy individual who took great care in bringing up her children and looking after her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Helen had many friends and family in the local area.

Survived by:  Her husband Leon, son Martin L. Skubinna of Washington, D.C. and daughter, Robin A. (Brian) Albert of Glenwood, Iowa; three sisters Esther Walling, of Waterloo, MaryLou (John) Ropes, of Mason City, Iowa and Bonnie Kiel, Clear Lake, Iowa; two brothers: Herman "Gus" Gadow, of Oelwein, Iowa and Milo (Harriet) Gadow, of Cedar Falls; three grandchildren:  Rebecca A. Albert, of Rochester, Minnesota, Brook E. (Clay) Parker of Gretna, Nebraska, and Luke A. (Jill) Albert, Columbia, Maryland.; two great-granddaughters,  Mara and Layne Parker of Gretna; four nephews, Milton (Sharon) Ropes, of Duluth, Minnesota, Lonny (Joyce) Gadow, Maynard, Doug Kiel, Fayette, Iowa and John (Jane) Gadow, Cedar Falls, three nieces,  Pam Kiel Clear Lake, Jennifer (Jeff) Ridder, Aplington, Iowa and Wendy Good Cedar Rapids, as well as numerous cousins in northeast Iowa and the United States.

Preceded in death by:  Her parents; one brother, John Gadow and a sister, Marie Gadow.

Services:  Will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday, September 11, 2010 at Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home  with burial  in Greenwood Cemetery both  in Cedar Falls. Visitation will be 5—7 p.m. at the funeral home, Friday, September 10, 2010. Memorials may be directed to Christian Crusaders and Cedar Valley Hospice. Online condolences may be left at www.DahlFuneralHome.com.