In Memory of Helen E. Hoaglund

Helen E. Hoaglund, age 96, of Wall Lake, Iowa (formerly of Arthur, Iowa) passed away on Thursday, October 17, 2019, at Twilight Acres of Wall Lake, Iowa.

A private family inurnment will be held at a later date. The Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home of Odebolt, Iowa is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online at www.christensenvanhouten.com

Helen Elizabeth (Fertig) Hoaglund was the eighth of nine children born to William C. and Anna C. (Bonnichsen) Fertig on October 25, 1922, on the family farm in Levey Township, Sac County, IA. She was named after her mother’s sister, Helen, whom shared the same birthday and Lizzie Roth, a close neighbor. Helen attended country school at Levey #4 and graduated the eighth grade in Sac City, IA. As with most people of her generation, work was an integral part of family life and being a farmer’s daughter, she knew what work was.

Helen met Earland “Bud” Hoaglund in Wall Lake, IA and they later married at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, IA, on June 21, 1947 and finally settled into their home in Arthur, IA. Helen first worked out of the home at the Arthur Café and later at a local restaurant in Arthur called The Chalet. In 1970 she began working in the housekeeping department of Colonial Manor in Odebolt, IA, until her retirement as head of housekeeping in the late 1990’s. 

In her later retirement years, Helen spent nights staying with some of the older widows needing a little assistance in the Odebolt-Arthur communities. She also was a janitor at the Arthur United Methodist Church for several years and helped her children deliver newspapers on Sunday mornings. Her days were full, working both in and out of the home, rarely taking a vacation or leaving home longer than a weekend except for a few times in her life to California, Florida and Ohio to be with family.

Helen is survived by three children: Larry (Joan) Hoaglund of Odebolt, IA, Allen (Melissa) Hoaglund of Mt. Eaton, OH and Jane (Joseph) Maeder of Lakeland, FL; grandsons Sean Taylor of Kansas, Scott (Angie) Hoaglund of Des Moines, IA, Todd (Jen) Hoaglund of Kiron, IA and Asa (Lenzil) Hoaglund of Crafton, PA; great-grandchildren LeEssa Hoaglund of Crafton, PA and Ryder Hoaglund of Kiron, IA.

She was preceded in death by a son Gary Lee Hoaglund; husband Earland “Bud” Hoaglund; parents William C. and Anna C. Fertig; daughter-in-law Susan (Allen) Hoaglund; brothers Louis, Harold, Howard, Everett, Leslie and Marvin Fertig; sisters Edna Stover and Gladys Hummel.

Thank you to the entire staff of Twilight Acres and the Hospice personnel for your care of our mother. She enjoyed her time and knew many residents there. A lifelong recipient of chiropractic care, Helen wanted to donate her body to Palmer Chiropractic University in Davenport, IA. She requested no funeral. In lieu of a memorial contribution, Helen wanted you to help those in need that you may encounter through your daily travels. Memorials may also be directed to the Odebolt Swimming Pool.