Helen Martha Zaiss
Born: August 31st, 1910
Died: January 19th, 2010
Obituary
Helen Martha Zaiss, 99, died at 5:15 a.m. on January 19, 2010, at Klein's Senior Care Center in Burlington. Mrs. Zaiss was born to Albert Emanuel Nelson and Hattie Mae Arnold on August 31, 1910, on a farm near Dodgeville. On September 23, 1933, she married Arthur Frank Zaiss at the Presbyterian Parsonage in Gladstone, Illinois. They celebrated 69 years together before his passing on May 13, 2003. Mrs. Zaiss was involved with various community organizations. She was an officer and Sunday School teacher at the Faith Presbyterian Church, senior counselor for the United Commercial Travelers, president and board member of the King's Daughters', and a Girl Scout leader. She was bookkeeper for her husband's business, Zaiss Motor Sales, organized their annual Christmas Party that had to be "just right", and helped manage their rental properties. She will be remembered for being the consummate caregiver for ill friends and family members, and for her gardening, cooking, needlework, and her special love of birds and nature. Mrs. Zaiss was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Hazel Anderson, and Ethel Lister; and one brother, Delbert (Dick) Nelson. She is survived by two daughters, Shirley Z. Johnson of Washington, D.C., and Linda K. Krantz of Burlington; their respective spouses, Charles Rumph and Wayne Krantz; two grandchildren, Arthur Krantz and Wendy Conlee of West Burlington; and six great-grandchildren, Dylan, Zachary, Andrew, and Spencer Krants, and Nicholas and Caitlyn Conlee. A memorial service will be held at Prugh's Chapel on Tuesday, January 26, 2010, at 4:00 p.m., with Rev. Randy Gearhart presiding. Private interment will be held at Aspen Grove Cemetery. A memorial has been established at the West Burlington School District for its Autism Program's Giggle Camp. Tax deductible contributions may be made to the West Burlington Independent School District, 211 Ramsey Street, West Burlington, Iowa 52655.