Helen A. Ahrens

Helen A. Ahrens, 97, of Columbia, died April 17, 2015, at Oak Hill Care Center, Waterloo.

She was born Dec. 8, 1917, in Maeystown, daughter of the late Alfred and Rosa Schaefer (nee Mueller). She was married to the late LeRoy Ahrens. He had passed away in 1979. They were married April 24, 1940, in Valmeyer.

Helen was a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ, where she had been a Past President of the Women’s League, Columbia Senior Citizens, and the Hungry 8 Card Club. She had been a secretary with the United Way – St. Louis Bureau for Men, as well as the Valmeyer School District Superintendent’s secretary.

Surviving are her daughter, Susan (Tom) Kuergeleis of Columbia; grandchildren, Amy (Joshua) Mistler of Columbia, Jennifer Kuergeleis of St. Louis, Amanda (Matthew) Buhr of Columbia, Michael (Angela) Ahrens of Dewitt, Iowa, Brian (Joy) Ahrens of Los Angeles, Calif., Lisa (Scott) Denker of Des Moines, Iowa, and Matthew (Carrie) Ahrens of Dewitt, Iowa; 12 great-grandchildren; daughter-in-law, Marilyn Ahrens of Dewitt, Iowa; and nieces and nephews.

She was also preceded in death by her son, Warren Ahrens, and a sister, Hilda Buettner.

Visitation will be Sunday, April 19, from 4 to 7 p.m., at Lawlor Funeral Home, Columbia.

Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, April 20, at St. Paul United Church of Christ, Columbia, with Pastor Bob Goddard, officiating.

Interment will follow in the Evangelical St. Paul Cemetery, Columbia.

As an expression of sympathy, the family prefers memorial contributions to: St. Paul United Church of Christ – Special Music Fund, 127 N. St. Paul, Columbia, IL 62236.