Helen M. Kahl

November 16, 1922 - April 10, 2020

Helen M. Kahl, age 97, of Storm Lake, Iowa passed on Good Friday, April 10, 2020 at the Methodist Manor Retirement Community in Storm Lake. Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Interment will take place in the Holstein Cemetery. Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements. In lieu of condolences, please check Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home. She was born on November 16, 1922, and daughter of Maxwell Bert and June Leola (Dawson) Baker, in Wright County, Belmond, Iowa. Growing up, she attended school in both Belmond and Clarion Schools, and was a May, 1942 graduate of Clarion High School. She later moved to Ankeny, Iowa, working at the Ankeny Ordinance Plant. On December 20, 1945, Helen was united in marriage to Oral W. Sams, a distinguished Army war veteran who fought under General George Patton as an infantry scout. They were blessed with two sons, Donald R. Sams and Dennis L. Sams. Oral died in a farming accident near Beaman, Iowa in June, 1949. Helen married Earl W. Kahl, who served in active duty in the Air Force as a tail gunner on bombing missions in the Pacific Campaign from June 13, 1944 to March 30, 1946. They were married in the Methodist Church in Holstein, Iowa, on August 20, 1951. They settled in Merrill, Iowa while Earl was engaged in farming, and where Helen was living at the time. They later moved to Holstein, Iowa closer to Earl’s family, and continued farming north of Holstein. Together, they had six children, Jeanne, Jerry, Loraile, Sherwood, Karyn, and Stephanie. In March, 1968, they lost their daughter, Karyn, in an auto accident. Later that year, they moved to Pleasantview Dr. in Storm Lake, Iowa where they lived for over 30 years. Helen had a busy life raising her children, cooking, baking, sewing, writing poetry, and gardening. Other hobbies included embroidering wall hangings, table cloths, dish cloths, doilies, and pillow cases. She loved writing and sending cards, letters, notes, and poetry. Her cooking was wonderful, particularly baking cinnamon rolls, breads, and desserts, and so much more. In her later years, she loved traveling with family, never missing a wedding or graduation. Some of her favorites were going to Hawaii, Oregon, Alaska, Branson, and flying to visit her kids. Above all, she especially loved spending time with her family, serving meals in her home, attending family activities such as sports, which then continued with her grandchildren and their activities. Helen will be forever remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She will also be remembered as someone with a kind spirit, wonderful patience, and a loving person. She will be sorely missed by many who loved her. Helen’s places of employment besides Ankeny Ordinance Plant were Joyce’s Greenery in Storm Lake, Storm Lake Community Schools in the lunch program, and Aalf’s Manufacturing. Those left to cherish her memory include her children: Donald Sams (Karen), Dearborn, MO, Dennis Sams (Linda), Stevensville, MD, Jeanne Wahrer (Greg), Smyrna, GA, Jerry Kahl, Storm Lake, IA, Loraile Tuttle (Scott), Ogden, IA, Woody Kahl (Cindy), Stockton, MO, Stephanie Smith (Dan), San Antonio, TX. She had many grandchildren; Michael Sams (Jill), Chris Sams (Becky), Michelle Baker, Amy Engeman (TJ), Dawn Criste (Eric), Sandy Hayward (Kyle), Cindy Riggs (Isaac),Tiffany Covington (Donnie), James Wahrer (Tamara), Machelle Hubbs (Brandon), Jeffrey Wahrer (Joyce), Joel Tuttle (Berina), Kristin Elsasser (Brandon), Ross Tuttle (Alaina), Teri Flores (Nick), Alex Kahl, Carter Smith, and Claire Smith, along with thirty great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren. Helen also has one surviving brother, Howard Baker (Smithville, MO) and two nephews, Rick Baker and Steve Baker, and another nephew, Bobby Brunner. Helen was preceded in death by her first husband, Oral Sams, her late husband, Earl Kahl, a sister, Henrietta Brunner, and a daughter, Karyn Machelle Kahl.