Helen Read, 14 May 1923 - 24 Sept 2017

READ, LUTZ, WILLENBROCK, TRACEY, HIGGINS, HUTCHINGS, ANDERSON

Posted By: Sandy Ficken (email)
Date: 3/11/2018 at 17:36:52

Helen Read, 94, of Marion, passed away quietly Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017, at St. Luke's Hospital. Visitation: 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Marion. Service: 10:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 29, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Marion. Burial: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.

She was born in Marengo, Iowa, on May 14, 1923, and was the oldest daughter of George Lutz and Emma Willenbrock Lutz. Helen lived in Marion her entire life and attended Emerson and Irving grade schools, Lincoln Junior High and Marion High School, graduating in 1942. Following graduation, she was employed by LaPlant Choate, followed by Collins Radio (Rockwell) through the war years, enjoying that time with a close group of girlfriends dubbed "the Collins girls."

She married the love of her life, Warren Edward Read, of Belle Plaine, Iowa, in January 1946 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Marion, following his return from serving with the U.S. Navy in the South Pacific. Together they operated Read Roofing & Construction Co. from 1955 until retirement in 1985, after which their son, Edward Read, assumed daily operations. Helen and Warren were married for 55 years, working together and enjoying an active life of RV traveling with chapters of Good Neighbor Sam and Holiday Rambler clubs. They served as wagon masters, organizing and leading rallies and caravans throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico for many years until 1998, when they purchased a permanent home in Palmetto Palms RV Park to spend equal time between Fort Myers, Fla., and Marion.

Following Warren's death in 2001, Helen remained a resident of Palmetto Palms until 2014, followed by Springwood Court in Fort Myers until 2016, and Bickford Cottage in Marion until her passing. Helen was a lifelong member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, of which her parents were among the founding members, the American Legion Auxiliary, Red Hat Society and several travel clubs.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Warren, in 2001; younger daughter, Patricia Tracey, in 2014; parents, Emma and George Lutz, in 1993 and 1999, respectively; only sister, Lois Lutz Higgins, and brother-in-law, Edward Higgins, in 2011 and 1978, respectively.

Helen is survived by her treasured son and devoted caretaker, Edward Read of Marion, who carries on the family business; daughter, Nancy Hutchings; and beloved only grandson, Michael Hutchings, who operate their family business, Meridias Realty Group, in Las Vegas, Nev.; Michael's wife, Terrisa of Sydney, Australia; and great-grandchildren, Natalia Hutchings, age 4, and Maxim Hutchings, age 2; nephew, Warren Edward Anderson, wife Jeri and family of Omaha, Neb.; and son-in-law, Gordon Tracey of Fort Myers.

Helen was a generous loving daughter, mother, wife, grandmother and friend always putting herself ahead of the wants and needs of others. She was admired by everyone who knew her: devoted, unselfish and giving to a fault, always cheerful in spirit and known as a charming, humorous and delightful person to be around. She enjoyed a genuinely charmed life full of love, travel, family and good friends. No more could be wished for anyone.

We will miss her forever.

Ed's personal message: Thank you for being the best mom a son could ever ask for. I am truly honored to have been your son and will treasure our memories forever just as I will never forget all the things you did for me and for always being there when I needed you.

The family would also like to extend heartfelt appreciation to the staffs at Bickford Cottage in Marion and St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids for their excellent care of our mother and grandmother.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial may be made to St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Marion.

Please share a memory of Helen at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.

The Gazette, Posted on Wednesday, 27 September 2017