Helen Reis Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Helen R. Reis, age 97, of Fonda, Iowa died Thursday, March 26, 2020 at the Laurens Care Center in Laurens, Iowa. Private family services will be held. Burial will be in the St. Columbkille Cemetery in Varina, Iowa. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements. Helen was born to George and Mary Veehoff September 19, 1922 the first daughter among five children. She grew up on a farm near Ida Grove, Iowa. Helen graduated from Storm Lake High in 1941 and earned a teaching certificate from Briar Cliff College in Sioux City. Following her education, Helen delighted in teaching elementary students in rural schools near Storm Lake and Sheldon. Helen enjoyed getting together with friends to go dancing at the Sunrise Ballroom where she met her husband Raymond Reis of Varina. They were married June 7, 1949 at St. Mary's Church in Storm Lake. Helen and Raymond began farming in the Varina area and eventually moved to Fonda where they were blessed with six children. There they became active lifetime members of Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church. Helen embraced the farm life with endless enthusiasm; raising chickens, helping with the field work, gardening, and canning. She played guitar, camped, fished, and entertained family and friends. Toast Masters, Bible studies, amd Women's Aglow were gatherings of her most meaningful fellowships. In recent years, Helen struggled with physical pain but was able to remain in her own home, due in great part to the loving support of her son John and eventually caregivers and hospice. The family is thankful to God for the many years we were blessed to have our wonderful mother/grandmother in our lives. We are most grateful that Helen had a strong personal faith in Jesus Christ. Survivors include 3 daughters; Mary Reis, Jerri (Jay) Copple, Jan Reis; three sons, John, Joe (Marilyn), and Bill (Jill) Reis; 11 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren and one brother, Joe Veehoff. But now God has shown us a different way to heaven —not by “being good enough” and trying to keep his laws, but by a new way (though not new, really, for the Scriptures told about it long ago). Now God says he will accept and acquit us—declare us “not guilty”—if we trust Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, by coming to Christ, no matter who we are or what we have been like. Yes, all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious ideal; yet now God declares us “not guilty” of offending him if we trust in Jesus Christ, who in his kindness freely takes away our sins. For God sent Christ Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to end all God’s anger against us. He used Christ’s blood and our faith as the means of saving us from his wrath. In this way he was being entirely fair, even though he did not punish those who sinned in former times. For he was looking forward to the time when Christ would come and take away those sins. And now in these days also he can receive sinners in this same way because Jesus took away their sins. But isn’t this unfair for God to let criminals go free, and say that they are innocent? No, for he does it on the basis of their trust in Jesus who took away their sins. Then what can we boast about doing to earn our salvation? Nothing at all. Why? Because our acquittal is not based on our good deeds; it is based on what Christ has done and our faith in him. So it is that we are saved by faith in Christ and not by the good things we do. -Romans 3:21,23-28

Helen Reis

September 19, 1922 - March 26, 2020