Helen Philomena Rennemeyer

Helen P. Rennemeyer, age 92, went to her heavenly home on August 2, 2017. She was the fourth child born to Fred and Caecilia Kwapiszeski, whose parents were of Polish and German descent as immigrants to the U.S. during the late1880’s. She grew up on the family farm in Panama, Iowa, along with her three brothers and sister. Helen’s grandmother, Katherine Fromm (Westphalia, IA) lived with the family until her death in 1928. As the norm of many rural communities, all of the children walked to town to attend the one-room schoolhouse. Helen’s family split up and moved to several farms within and around Shelby County, Iowa, throughout her high school years in order to crop share and sustain income until shortly following the Great Depression. Helen attended 4 different high schools and graduated in 1942, in Exira, IA. She continued her education at St. Catherine’s Nursing School and Duchesne College, in Omaha graduating with a Registered Nursing degree in 1948. While living at Mother Campbell’s boarding home in Omaha, she met and fell in love with Raymond Rennemeyer, previously from Howells, NE. They were united in marriage on December 28, 1949, at St. Cecilia’s Cathedral in Omaha. Later, their marriage was blessed with two children, Maurice and Marianne. Helen worked at St. Catherine’s, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Clarkson Hospital, Mutual of Omaha’s Medical Clinic and as a school nurse for the Omaha Public Schools. In 1973, she and Ray moved to Denver, Colorado, where they lived another 43 years. During that time, she retired from Gates Tire and Rubber Medical Clinic. They were blessed with four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. In December 2014, they celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary together at their nursing home shortly before Ray’s passing. Helen’s legacy will be that she was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She helped improve the lives of so many through her nursing career and her faith in God. Helen was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Caecilia; sister, Ethel; brothers, Frederick, Herbert, and Leonard; her grandson, Scott; and husband, Ray; her nephews, Michael, Charles, Mark and Paul. Helen is survived in death by her sister, Edna and her husband, William of CO; her sister-in law, Rita, of WA; her brother-in-law, Melvin and his wife, Laverne of UT. Surviving children: her son, Maurice and his wife, Elizabeth, of CO; her daughter, Marianne, of CO. Surviving grandchildren: Paul and Karen of CO; Kelley, of MN. Surviving great-grandchildren: Mark, Maelin and Micah, Kayla, Nathanael, and Benjamin, and Anna of CO. Surviving nephews: John, Joe and Mark, of WA; Jim of CA; Robert of NE; Keith, Wayne and Jay of UT; Gary of NE. Surviving nieces: Kathleen and Nancy of WA; Carmela of IA; Kristen and Melissa of UT; Lori and Renee of NE, as well as other relatives and friends. Helen’s favorites: Quote: “If you feel like you are at the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on!” Song: “You are My Sunshine” Book: “Betty Crocker’s Cookbook” Nursery Rhyme: Humpty Dumpty Movie: “The Sound of Music” Activities: Dancing to ‘40’s Big Band music, bowling, water aerobics, gardening, playing the piano/organ Favorite car: Volkswagen Bug Fast Food: Kentucky Fried Chicken, Root Beer Float Flower: Rose Color: Red A visitation will be held on Monday, August 14, 2017 from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 5303 East County Line Road, Centennial, CO 80122. A funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m. A graveside service will be held at Fort Logan National Cemetery, 3698 South Sheridan Boulevard, Denver, at 1:15 p.m. Please arrive at Staging Area C by 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Helen's family. Please share memories of Helen and condolences with her family by signing the guestbook below.