Funeral Mass for Helena M. Irmiter was held on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Armstrong, Iowa, with Father Paul Kelly, Officiant, and Deacon Paul Rudd.
Helena was laid to rest at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Armstrong, Iowa.
Her Final “Life & Spice” Helena Margaret Irmiter passed away peacefully at the age of 86 on Thursday, November 21 surrounded by her children. Quick to laugh (particularly at her own jokes), the last few weeks of her life were spent in the home she loved, spoiling her cat, working on her crocheting and rosary-making, and sharing stories and laughter with visitors. She was grateful to be in her home in Ringsted, the town where she had lived since1962 with her husband and children.
Born on June 20, 1938 on a farm outside of Bancroft to Peter and M. Elizabeth (Schmit), Helena attended and graduated from St. John’s Catholic School there. She married Gerald (Jerry) Irmiter at St. John’s on June 6, 1959, a union that lasted 50 years, until Jerry’s passing in 2012. With her Catholic faith as her foundation, she and Jerry raised their 17 children with the Holy Family at its center and with particular devotion to Jesus and his beloved Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Though her greatest love was her family, many know Helena as the reporter and photographer for the Ringsted Dispatch, a job she enjoyed for over 20 years. A lifelong reader, who instilled that passion in her children, she earned her Associate’s Degree in 1995 as an adult learner at Iowa Lakes Community College, where she honed her photography skills and made many new friends among students and staff. This was emblematic of her life–a stranger to no one, Helena could draw a compelling story out of even the most hesitant: “Everyone’s life is interesting. And I love talking to people to make sure it’s told.” Among her duties at the Dispatch was her column “Life & Spice,” where, in her distinctive voice, Helena shared the silly and the strange, the slightly offbeat and often amusing anecdotes that filled her days. In the midst of hardship, Helena could find humor and loved helping others find it, too (whether you found it funny or not).
Helena is survived by ten sons, six daughters, and their spouses: Tina Irmiter of Fort Wayne, IN; Donald of Spencer; Madonna and Mark Indgjer of Champlin, MN; Deanna and John Mueller of Elkhorn, NE; Gary and Kris of Eagle Lake, MN; Wayne and Denise of Raleigh, NC; Francis and Tammy of Evensville, TN; Allen and Shelly of Spencer; Martin of Cedar Rapids; Dean and Renae of Armstrong; Dale and Ann of Spencer; Marcia of Armstrong; Anthony of Titonka; Paul of Sheldon; Elizabeth and Mitchell Glodek of Boonsboro, MD; Sarah Hansen of Ringsted; and Rachel and Donald Lively of West Columbia, SC.
Helena was the very proud grandma of 50 grandchildren and their spouses and 32 great-grandchildren. The tenth of 15 children, Helena leaves behind a sister: Sister Theresa Rolling of Dubuque; and a brother and his spouse, Bernard and Connie Rolling of Fort Dodge. In addition, Helena is survived by many well-loved in-laws, cousins, godchildren, nieces, and nephews.
Preceding her in passing were her parents, Peter and Elizabeth; brothers, Chuck, Dennis, Frank, Jim, Joe, John, Mike, Patrick; and sisters, Bernadette, Dorothy, Marcella, Rita; son, Matthew; and grandson, Josh Irmiter; as well as several of her aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Online condolences may be left for Helena’s family at HenryOlsonFuneral.com
