Helen Leinweber, 97, passed away March 14,2019 at Oak Pointe Assisted Living in Carthage, MO. She was born Feb. 8, 1922, the seventh of nine children, to Henry Wagner and Katherine Schlagel Wagner in Longmont, CO, where she was raised on the family farm. She was not a stranger to hard work as she told many stories about thinning and topping beets as a child. She graduated from Boulder Co. Public school in 1936 and didn’t have the opportunity to attend high school.
She remembered working for a Mrs. Nelson while growing up, doing cooking and household chores. She learned how to properly set a table because Mrs. Nelson was, in her words, “fancy”. She was confirmed March 28th, 1937 at Peace Evangelical Lutheran church.
She married Frederick Allen Leinweber on August 27, 1944. After WWII they bought their first home in Englewood, CO where they raised their family. She loved being a mom. She was a room mother at Clayton Elementary School, a Cub Scout Den Mother for Rex, 4-H Leader for Barbara where she taught the skills of sewing, knitting, embroidery and basic cooking to several girls. Many of us continue to enjoy these skills and hobbies to this day.
Growing up during the depression deeply embedded in both Helen and Fred the need to save and be frugal. Helen took in ironing and did house cleaning to earn extra money. When the kids were old enough to care for themselves, she began working at a Woolworth lunch counter in Littleton. It was hard work, on her feet all day, but I think she enjoyed the people she met and served. Saving her tips over the years she was able to pay for her daughter’s wedding dress. Although she only completed the eighth grade, she could add and subtract quickly and correctly in her head and make change accurately, an art that has been lost to many, today!
Retirement was not leisure and travel for Helen. It was keeping up with Fred and his large and bountiful garden. Much of her summers were spent cleaning, preparing and processing the food he produced. She always enjoyed dogs, but never dreamed she would end up with 3 of them; her own plus two extras from friends and relatives who had passed. Fred was terminally ill at this time and she cared for him until his death on April 22, 1996.
After his passing, she was ready to offer her services volunteering at Clayton Elementary School. She walked to Clayton and worked with kids who needed extra help. She received a Volunteer of the year award, but was fearful they would one day find out she didn’t have a high school diploma. She enjoyed doing this for several years.
In 2006, she decided to sell her house and car and move to Missouri to be closer to her daughter. At 84 she did all this on her own with a little help from neighbors, friends and relatives. She moved into an Independent Senior living community in Joplin, MO and quickly got to know her new neighbors and fellow residents. She started an afternoon card group that played “Hand & Foot” almost every day after lunch. She experienced the devastating Joplin tornado in 2011. Luckily, the apartment she lived in was located in a safe part of town. She met and heard stories from a few of the survivors who came there to live after their homes were destroyed. About this time she met a fine gentleman, Mahlon Henry, who moved in next door to her. They hit it off and enjoyed each other’s company until his passing in 2017.
At the age of 92 she achieved a personal goal of living longer than anyone in her family, which she ultimately beat by several years. Although she had advanced macular degeneration and very poor vision, she still did what she could. She continued playing Hand & Foot with low vision cards and started listening to audiobooks supplied by the Association of the Blind. She loved to “visit” on the phone with friends and relatives and appreciated hearing from nieces and nephews and keeping up with their lives. Over the years she also became an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan, spending many nights watching and listening to the games in order to talk about it the next day with friends and fellow card players.
Growing old is not easy but Helen was an example of how to do it as gracefully as possible. Due to her deteriorating eyesight and mobility, she moved to Oak Pointe Assisted Living facility in Carthage, Missouri in November of 2018. This location was very close to where Barb and son-in-law Steve live. In her last few weeks, she was appreciative of all the care she received and thanked everyone who helped. She had made her peace and was ready to go home to be with the Lord. Her advise to us was…..Don’t live past 94!
Helen is survived by a son, Rex Leinweber of Summerset, SD, a daughter Barbara Leinweber Montague (Steve) of Carthage, MO, 4 grand children –Ryan Montague (Erin) of Roxanna, IL, Michael Montague (Katie) of Gardner, KS, Elizabeth Leinweber (Patrick) Chapman of Watertown, SD, and Sarah Leinweber (Matt) Trooien of Brookings, SD, 5 great grandchildren and 4 step great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at Olinger Hampden Mortuary in Denver, CO, with burial at Ft. Logan Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Bright Focus Foundation, 22512 Gateway Center Drive, Clarksburg, MD 20871, or the charity of one’s choice.
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