Helen Louise Tessman

Helen Louise Tessman, the daughter of Jorgen and Sadie (Mantz) Schmidt was born August 17, 1916 on the family farm in Leroy Township, Audubon County, Iowa and died November 27, 2018 at the Manning Regional Healthcare Center in Manning, Iowa at the age of 102 years, 3 months, and 2 days.
Helen was baptized at the First Presbyterian Church in Audubon, Iowa. She attended rural Audubon County schools then graduated from the Audubon High School with the Class of 1934.
On August 15, 1938, she was united in marriage to Russell Tessman at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. They were blessed with three children: Sharlette Ann, Russell Edward, and Alice Louise. They lived on and operated their farm in Leroy Township, Audubon County. Helen was a homemaker but helped Russell with the farm where they grew row crops and raised cattle. They farmed until they retired in 1972 but stayed living on the farm. Russell died January 30, 2003. Helen continued to live in her own home until she moved to the Manning Regional Healthcare Center.
Helen was a faithful member of the First United Methodist Church in Audubon, Iowa and enjoyed being a part of the Methodist Women, the Sewing Club and Get Together Club. She enjoyed hand sewing, crocheting and cut work but especially enjoyed spending time with her family.
Preceding her in death was her husband, Russell Tessman; her son, Russell Edward Tessman; her sons-in-law, Willis Olson and Joel Grundmeier; her parents; her sister, Marie Wendt; her brother, Frank and wife Dorothy Schmidt; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Don and wife Florence Tessman and Emmert and wife Ellowene Burr.
Helen is survived by her daughters, Sharlette and husband Jack Weighton of Audubon, Iowa and Alice Grundmeier of Storm Lake, Iowa. Her grandchildren: Craig Olson of West Des Moines, Iowa, Kim and wife Rhonda Olson of Audubon, Iowa, Jennifer and husband Jason Fuller of Des Moines, Iowa, John and wife Laura Grundmeier of Elko New Market, Minnesota; her great grandchildren: Chassity Olson of Audubon, Iowa, Allison Olson of Albia, Iowa, Brandon and Dylan Grundmeier both of Elko New Market, Minnesota; her great-great granddaughter Mila Irlbeck of Audubon, Iowa; and brother-in-law, Ervin Wendt of San Diego, California; many nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.
The family will meet with friends Friday, November 30, 2018, from 12:00 noon until the time of the service at the First United Methodist Church in Audubon, Iowa. Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Kathy Kluis on Friday, November 30, 2018, at 2:00 P.M. at the First United Methodist Church in Audubon. Interment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon. The honorary casket bearers will be Ervin Schmidt and Randy Malloy. The casket bearers will be Lloyd Schmidt, Bill Schmidt, Ed Andersen, Wayne Moreland, David Jensen, and Gary Christensen.