Helen Marie (Kraus) Schuerer, 28 Mar 1931 - 12 Sep 2024

SCHUERER, KRAUS, ZUBER, CUMMINGS, MADDEN

Posted By: Sarah Witte (email)
Date: 9/25/2024 at 13:37:45

Helen Kraus Schuerer, of East Amana, Iowa passed away Thursday, September 12, 2024, at the age of 93. A Funeral Service will be held at the Middle Amana Church on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at 1pm. Family will receive friends prior to the service beginning at 11am. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Amana Church Society at PO Box 103, Middle Amana, Iowa 52307. Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo is assisting with arrangements.

Helen is survived by her son Neal Schuerer (Melissa) and her daughter Carol Zuber (Brad). Grandchildren Greta Cummings (Aaron), Maria Madden (Mark) and Harry Zuber (Deana). Her beloved great-grandchildren; Gabe Cummings, Mitch Cummings, Jake Cummings and Grace Madden. And numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Harold, her parents Charles and Helene Kraus, her grandson Henry Schuerer, and her brothers George and Elmer Kraus.

Helen was born on March 28, 1931, in Middle Amana, Iowa. A life-long resident of the Amana Colonies, she received her education in the Amana Schools and began her career with the Amana Society. Helen was married to Harold W. Schuerer on June 5, 1950.

Together with her brother-in-law and sister-in-law George and Florence Z. Schuerer, Harold and Helen would spend the next 33 years managing the Amana Meat Shop. George and Harold loved to be out front with the customers while Florence and Helen were in the back office building a large mail order business for the Amana Meat Shop products. There were no computers or specialized customer relations software programs. They pioneered the growth of the business with typewriters, telephones, notecards and a fancy four-color mail-order catalogue. Today the Amana Meat Shop mail order business is a cornerstone of the Amana Society brand.

Helen's favorite community activities were Y-Teen Leadership and Cub Scouts. She also served many years as Treasurer of the Amana Church Society.

In 1984 Helen's lifelong dream was fulfilled with the opening of the Amana Barn Restaurant which she and Harold operated with their family through their retirement year in 2001. Helen poured her energy into the recipes, the menu, the brunch offerings and all of the back-office work. She was especially proud of her team of co-workers. Mostly young people who would become lifelong friends whom she relished watching go on to their own marriages and careers.

In retirement Helen became a devoted Cubs fan and closely followed the activities of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren attending their games or concerts as often as she could. Health issues curtailed her church attendance in the last few years. Although living the Christian life and church attendance was an important and active part of her life. Her wish for each, and everyone was for their commitment to accepting Jesus Christ as Savior.

Published on Kloster Funeral Home website.