Helen Fencl, 89

Dec. 21, 1930 —

Feb. 12, 2020

 

PROTIVIN - Helen Fencl, age 89, of Protivin, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020, at Country Winds Manor, Patty Elwood Center in Cresco, Iowa. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Protivin on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020, at 10 a.m., with Father Aaron Junge officiating.  Burial will be held in Holy Trinity Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 18, from 4-7 p.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, and will continue at the church for one hour prior to the service on Wednesday. Hindt-Hudek Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Helen Marietta Fencl was born on Dec. 21, 1930 to George and Abbie (Voves) Kostka. She married Joseph W. Fencl on June 12, 1950. To this union three children were born, Beverly, Kenneth and Carol. 

Helen attended country school, where she was in charge of starting the fire each morning. She graduated from Rudolphinum High School in Protivin, where she played basketball. The couple established Fencl Oil & L.P. Co. Inc. in 1951, first operating the business out of their home and then securing a building on Main Street in Protivin. Helen worked in the business as a secretary until her retirement in 1997, even though she declared when the computer came into the office, she would be going out the back door. 

Over her lifetime, she enjoyed bowling (Fencl Oil sponsored her team.), crocheting, playing cards, playing Bingo, her flower gardens, her kitties and her collection of glass baskets and Czech items. She loved to have her grandchildren and great-grandchildren visit. She also truly enjoyed entertaining relatives and friends, especially when they stopped in each year during the annual Czech Days celebration in August. She was also known for her poppy seed cakes that she dutifully prepared for any and all funerals in the parish.

Helen was a member of Holy Trinity Parish in Protivin and belonged to many groups and organizations over the years, including the Parish Life Society, HoCA Board (an organization that provides monies to cancer patients in need in Howard County) and was always ready and willing to donate a pan of bars to the Czech Historical Society when asked, as she belonged and volunteered her time to this organization as well. She was a Legion Auxiliary member for over 60 years. She was fortunate to travel to the Czech Republic several times during her lifetime.

Helen was a great and generous wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and godmother and will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved her.

She is survived by her daughter, Beverly and friend Pat Bingley of Kimberling City, Mo.; son, Kenneth (Gail) of Protivin and their children, Kyle (Katie) of Protivin, Casey (Lindsay) of Oswego, Ill., Cody (Annie) of Decorah, Iowa and Maggie Mills (Chad) of Waterloo, Iowa; daughter, Carol (Don) Barloon of Little Turkey, Iowa and their children, Ryan (Carrie) of New Hampton, Iowa, Shane (Daphne) of Protivin and Reece of Little Turkey; friend, Tereza Pribanova of Czech Republic; and great-grandchildren, Cole, Keira, Kaylee, Parker, Brooks, Eloise, Franklin, baby Fencl, Sawyer Mills and Corbett, Nash, Bradley and baby girl Barloon.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Joe in 1989; her parents, George and Abbie Kostka; Joe’s parents, Joe Sr. and Fannie Fencl; sister, Arlene (Harold) Baethke; sister-in-law, Lois (Don “Sugar”) Fencl; sister-in-law, Dorothy “Dottie” (Lloyd) Novak; and nieces and nephews.