Helen Wubbenhorst, 91, of Harlan, Iowa
Helen Mary Wubbenhorst, the daughter of Peter N. and Clara (Bock) Gubbels was born on September 1, 1933, on a farm near Westphalia, Iowa. She was baptized, confirmed and received her First Holy Communion at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Westphalia. She attended St. Boniface Grade and High School in Westphalia and graduated in May 1951.
She attended Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and received her Bachelor of Science in Education Degree in August 1963. She also pursued many other educational courses in the following years while teaching from University of Nebraska (Omaha), University of Colorado, Adams State College, and Arizona State University.
She taught various elementary grades for 17 years in Wisconsin and Nebraska. She was an elementary school principal for 2 years in Bloomfield, Nebraska and 6 years in Denver, Colorado.
On November 29, 1979, she was united in marriage to Dwight Wubbenhorst in Herman, Nebraska. After their marriage they spent their years between Herman and Mesa, Arizona. Her hobbies included writing teaching ideas for publication in educational magazines, traveling with her husband both domestically and abroad, attending classical concerts, art galleries, historical museums, and reading.
Her husband passed away August 25, 2010. She remained in Herman until December 14, 2013, when she moved to Harlan, Iowa. Helen passed away on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at Elm Crest Retirement Community in Harlan, attaining the age of ninety-one years, four months, and six days.
She is preceded in death by her husband Dwight Wubbenhorst, her parents Peter and Clara Gubbels. Five brothers Peter Gubbels, Alvin Gubbels, Ambrose Gubbels, Cyril Gubbels, and Rev. Richard Gubbels. Four sisters Sabina Conrad, Sylvia Goeser, Virginia Lickteig, and Mary Ann Koesters. Four brothers-in-law Edmund Goeser, Cletus Lickteig, E.J. Conrad and Francis Koesters. Four sisters-in-law Mabel Gubbels, Minerva Gubbels, Catherine Gubbels, and Therese Gubbels.
She is survived by sister-in-law Rita Gubbels, many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, other family members and friends.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, January 13th, 2025, at 11AM at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Harlan.
Interment will follow the service at 2:30PM at the Herman Cemetery in Herman, Nebraska.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 12th, from 5PM-7PM at the Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan, with a wake service to immediately follow at the funeral home.
Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan is caring for the family.
