Erin Henas of Mediapolis, right, holds her 2-year-old daughter, Emma, while being helped by Don Lutz of Burlington and Margaret Helt of Burlington as she shops at the Zion United Church of Christ Angel Food program Saturday in Burlington. See link:
...........................
John Helt's mother, Margaret, 92, was recently featured in a photo in the Iowa Hawkeye working in her church's food program. We've known this amazing lady since 1980 when she visited her son Rev. John in Milwaukee after John graduated from seminary and took his first assignment, a dual one at struggling central city churches Friedens and New Hope UCCs. (Search the SRN under 'Friedens'.)
Margaret kept active per her wholesome life's pattern as a farmer on the same homestead acreage her late husband tilled with son John's youthful help, for many years. When the US Government commandeered part of the farm for the Burlington Ordnance Depot during WW II, the Helts kept working the remainder, and it is still under the plow via tenants. John's father is buried in a small cemetery now within the chain-linked, satellite-patrolled Army Depot spread, so that when his grave is visited by John, Margaret and loved ones, a guard shack at the Depot perimeter must first grant clearance.
This alone is enough to give one a peaceful orientation.
.....................
In the smaller picture, Margaret is shown giving a young man instruction riding his motorcycle with a leaned-back, rear ballast. Bravely dealing with resistance and gravity: Margaret Helt's specialities.
She gives a hand wherever necessary.
