Gertrude M. Helling, 100, of Fort Madison, IA, passed away on Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 12:28 AM at The Kensington.
She was born on June 26, 1926 in Ft. Madison to Peter and Wilhelmina Abel Kottenstette. On April 7, 1947 she married William J. Helling and he passed away on April 19, 2005. Gertie was a homemaker and a dedicated member of Holy Family Parish, Sacred Heart Church where she was active in CLA and the Altar and Rosary Society. Gertie was very devoted to her faith and prayed the rosary every day. Most of all she was a very loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and great great grandmother.
Survivors include one son, Michael (Anita) Helling of Ft. Madison; three daughters, Mary Lou (Paul) Kline of Council Bluffs, Diane (John) Rempe of West Point and Patricia Muilenburg of Ft. Madison; fifteen grandchildren; forty great grandchildren and one on the way and two great great grandchildren and one on the way and her many good friends at The Kensington. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; one daughter, Carol and her husband Bill Reed; two grandsons, Mark and Matt Druppel; one great grandchild, Noah Shanks; a son in law, Bill Muilenburg; two brothers and two sisters.
A rosary will be recited at 1:30 PM on Sunday, September 20, 2026 at King-Lynk Funeral Home & Crematory, followed by the visitation from 2-4 PM. The funeral mass will be held at 10 AM on Monday, September 21, 2026 at Sacred Heart Church with Rev. Gary Beckman officiating. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery.
A memorial has been established for Holy Family Parish or St. Jude Children’s Hospital and online condolences may be left at www.kinglynk.com.
