Helen Havlik

Helen Mary Havlik, 89, of Cedar Rapids, went to be with her Lord on Tuesday, May 16, 2017. Funeral Mass: 10 a.m. on Friday, May 19, 2017, at St. Ludmila Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids, by Rev. Kenneth J. Glaser. Visitation: 4-7 p.m. Thursday at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids, with a rosary and sharing of memories at 4 p.m. Burial: St. Joseph Cemetery, Cedar Rapids. Survivors include her husband of 66 years, Vernon 'Vern'; two sons, Gary (Lezlie) Havlik and Russell (Brenda) Havlik, all of Cedar Rapids; daughter, Cathy (Tom) Wilkerson of Linden, Iowa; sister, Kathleen McElmeel of Marion; grandchildren, Jennifer (Philip) McCurdy, Jesse (Amie) Havlik, Zachary (Theresa) Havlik, Lucas (Jamie) Havlik, Stephanie Schneider, Shellie Havlik, Brian (Jody) Havlik, Emily (Tim) Grubbs and Angie (Lonnie) Klein; and 20 great grandchildren. Helen was born on March 26, 1928, in Dyersville, Iowa, the daughter of Henry and Mary Catherine (Manthey) Althaus. After graduating from St. Francis Xavier High School in 1946, she went on to graduate from Mercy School of Nursing, in Cedar Rapids in 1949 as an RN. She then taught incoming freshman before being employed by Dr. Cal Stark as his office nurse. On June 17, 1950, she married Vern Havlik at the Basilica of St. Francis Xavier in Dyersville. After her marriage, she worked in Mercy's Nursing Department and as a school nurse for the Cedar Rapids Community Schools. Later she worked part-time at Von Maur, took care of a nursing classmate for three years, and was also a hospice volunteer. She then dedicated her life to raising her family and being a homemaker. At St. Ludmila's, she was a Eucharistic minister for many years. Her faith was very important to her and was a powerful and guiding force in her life. She also enjoyed painting, crafts, woodworking, walking, and above all her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Every year she and her husband, Vern enjoyed going to Minnesota fishing with family and friends Helen was preceded in death by her parents. Memorials are suggested to the Dennis & Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy or St. Ludmila Catholic Church.