Helen Ruth (Happel) Jorgensen

Helen Ruth (Happel) Jorgensen, 87, of Hampton, Iowa, went to be with her Lord and Savior on August 4, 2020. Helen was born on May 3, 1933, near Atkins, Iowa to Theodore and Clara Happel. She was baptized at St. Stephen Lutheran Church in Atkins on June 4, 1933 and grew up on a farm outside of Latimer, Iowa with her brothers Richard, Alfred, Paul, and Lester.

Helen was confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Latimer on April 20, 1947 and graduated from the Franklin Consolidated School in Latimer in 1951. She worked at the school as a secretary following graduation and met Jim Jorgensen of Hampton, Iowa, in 1953 at a church youth group gathering. They were married on July 24, 1955. That common faith in God turned out to be the bedrock of a marriage that lasted 64 years until Jim’s death on December 22, 2019.

Helen and Jim farmed in Franklin County until Jim’s retirement in 2000. They raised five children together. Helen’s life reflected her resolute faith in Jesus Christ. She dedicated herself to the service of her family, her church (Trinity Lutheran in Hampton), and her community. Helen was a longtime member of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League and the Franklin County Hospital Auxiliary, and together with Jim, actively supported the Franklin County Historical Society. She spent countless hours delivering meals to Jim in the fields and cooking and serving food for events at the church. Indeed, Helen was a natural “servant leader” long before we read about that concept in books.

To her children, Helen was a rock in good times and bad. Whether they lived in New York, Detroit, Chicago, Phoenix, or California, whether it was the birth of a grandchild, a move to a new home or any other need, Helen was there to support her kids, cooler of food in tow and ready to help.

Helen loved music and sang in the church choir. She attended dozens of her children’s band and choral concerts, sporting events, and to her eternal credit, claimed to enjoy listening to the kids practice the piano, organ, trumpet, flute, and saxophone. Helen also enjoyed sports, dating back to the heyday of 6-on-6 girls’ basketball and listening to the Stan the Man Musial-era St. Louis Cardinals on the radio with her brothers. More recently, Helen delighted in spending time with her 12 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren on the family farm and summer visits to Clear Lake. To her family and friends, Helen’s life proves that 87 years can pass by far too quickly.

Helen is preceded in death by her parents, husband Jim, brother Richard and sister-in-law Lois, sister Elaine, brother George, sister-in-law Kathy Happel, brother-in-law Phil Piechowski, and son-in-law Roger Spath. She is survived by her brothers Alfred (Norma), Paul, and Lester (Alma); daughters Karen McVicker (Gary), Jeanine Efflandt, Peggy Badger (John), Barbara Badger (Jamie), and son James (Amanda); grandchildren Benjamin (Heather), Jacob (Jessi), and Isaiah Spath, Matthew Efflandt (Betsy) and Lindsay Clemenson (Garrett), Brooke Hull (Adam) and Renae Badger, Samuel, Alex, and Laura Badger, and Mae and Andie Jorgensen; great grandchildren Vivian, Aidan, and Silas Hull, Harold Spath; and numerous extended family members. 


 A private family service was held on Saturday, August 8, 2020, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hampton.  Burial took place at St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery in Latimer.  The Sietsema Vogel Funeral Home of Hampton assisted Helen’s family.

Memorial contributions may be sent in memory of Helen Jorgensen, to Trinity Lutheran Church Vicar Fund, 16 12th Ave NE, Hampton, IA, 50441, or to Orphan Grain Train, PO Box 1466, Norfolk, NE, 68702-1466.

Cards of condolences may be sent to Helen’s family at Sietsema Vogel Funeral Home, PO Box 403, Hampton, IA, 50441.

www.sietsemavogelfuneralhomes.com