Helen J. Gries

Helen J. Gries, 92, of Sioux City died Saturday, Jan. 27, 2007, at her residence surrounded by her family.

Services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at St. Michael's Catholic Church, with the Rev. Gary Snyder officiating. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, Neptune, Iowa. Visitation will be 3 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a vigil service at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Condolences may be sent online to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Mrs. Gries was born Oct. 7, 1914, in rural Kingsley, Iowa, the daughter of William and Katherine (Kramer) Plendl. She grew up in Kingsley and graduated from Union High School in 1932.

She married Ernest Gries on Jan. 15, 1936, in Kingsley. He died March 12, 1973, in Sioux City. She worked at St. Joseph Hospital from 1962 to 1980.

She treasured her family and especially enjoyed family get togethers. She loved her home and working with her flowers. She had a great love for dancing. She was a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church.

Survivors include six children, Lorraine Gries of McCook Lake, S.D., Lawrence Gries of Ellisville, Miss., Kenneth Gries and his wife, Kathryn of Sioux City, Eldon Gries and his wife, Linda of Des Moines, Vernon Gries of Sioux City and Francis Gries and his wife, Ruth of Sioux City; a brother-in-law, LeRoy Gries of Eugene, Ore.; a sister-in-law, Secret Plendl of Kingsley; 13 grandchildren; and 27 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a son, Junior; a daughter-in-law, Jane Gries; three brothers, Alvin, Edward and Bernie Plendl; a sister-in-law, Elvera Plendl; and three grandchildren, Michael, Debra and Victoria.

Pallbearers will be John Gries, Steven Gries, Keith Gries, Joshua Gries, David Garland and Joe Strom.