Helen Knuppe

Helen F. Knuppe, 77, of Waukon, IA, died Monday, February 28, 2022, at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Thursday, March 3rd, at 11:30 AM at Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waukon with Pastor Ken Kimball officiating and with burial in the church cemetery. Friends may greet the family from 10:30 AM until the time of services on Thursday at the church. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Helen Frances Knuppe was born on March 18, 1944, in Des Moines, IA, the daughter of Lester Brainard and Rita Knuppe. She spent some of her early years at various children's homes in the Des Moines area until 1961, when she moved to rural Waukon, IA, to live with her mother Rita and Harold Severson. Helen received her education from a number of sources at the various places she lived while growing up and continued learning throughout her life. After living with Rita and Harold, Helen lived in an apartment on her own in Waukon for several years before moving to Makee Manor in Waukon. She has been a resident at the Good Samaritan Society since 2009.

Since she always wanted to be productive and active, Helen did some office work at the Allamakee County Courthouse and worked at Quandahl's Red Owl Cafe, both in Waukon. Helen spent a lot of time at TASC, where she learned to embroider, knit, crochet, and weave rugs; all of these talents she was willing to share with others. She enjoyed her independence and loved driving her car to go shopping, which was one of her favorite pastimes. Helen also liked working jigsaw puzzles and was an avid baseball fan, following the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers. She also loved to take bus trips to several places in the United States.

Survivors include her mother Rita Severson of Waukon and several cousins. She is preceded in death by her father Lester and her step-father Harold Severson.