Helen Marilyn Briehl, age 86, of Eldridge, IA and formerly of Fennimore, WI, died on Tuesday Nov. 22, 2016 at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House in Bettendorf, IA. Helen was born on June 3, 1930 in Edmond, WI the daughter of James and Mabel (Knutson) Moen.
Helen graduated from Fennimore High School in 1948 and soon married her high school sweetheart, Stephen A. Briehl on Nov. 27, 1949. In addition to raising her family, Helen and Stephen owned and operated Briehl’s Café for 8 years and then City Foods from 1964-1970. Helen later worked for Ray-o-vac in Fennimore beginning in 1976 until her retirement in 1992. Helen was a life long member of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Fennimore and a member of Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in Eldridge since moving there in 2004. Helen enjoyed cheering on the Badgers and Packers, playing cards and singing. She always looked forward to spending time with family at numerous family events. Helen was a hardworking woman who never complained, even during the most difficult times. Her loving personality, witty sense of humor and strong faith will forever be cherished.
The Briehl family would like to thank the staff at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House for the loving and compassionate care provided to Helen over the past 19 days.
Helen is survived by her five children, Eric (Jane) Briehl of Spring Green, WI, Karen (Dan) O’Flahrity of Eldridge, IA, Peter (Lorrie) Briehl of Beaver Dam, WI, Kristin Knutson of Belleville, WI and Matthew Briehl of Eldridge, IA; nine grandchildren, Taylor and Emily Briehl, Kimberly Gerardy and Patrick O’Flahrity, Jonathan Briehl, Kayla Julius, Michael Mousseau, Meghann Rath and Margaux Pascoe; 14 great-grandchildren; sister-in-laws, June Rewey of Dodgeville, Dorothy Briehl of Staunton, VA and Ruth Briehl of Tacoma, WA.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents, husband Stephen, son-in-law Steve Knutson, great-grandchild Christian Rath; brothers, Raymond, Kenneth, Ralph, and Amos Moen and sisters Virginia McKnight and Beulah Nelson.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, Nov. 28, 2016 at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Fennimore with burial to follow in the Stitzer Lutheran Cemetery. Pastor Heather Geest of Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in Eldridge will be officiating. Visitation will be held from 1:00 – 4:00 P.M. on Sunday afternoon Nov. 27, 2016 at the Larson Family Funeral Home in Fennimore and from 10:00 A.M. until the time of service at the church on Monday morning. In lieu of plants and flowers, a memorial fund is being established in loving memory of Helen M. Briehl