Obituary of Helen Ann Osterhaus

DUBUQUE, IOWA Helen A. Sweeney Osterhaus, 91, of Dubuque, Iowa and formerly of Holy Cross, died Thursday, January 24, 2013 at Mercy Medical Center, Dubuque, Iowa. Friends may call from 3:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Monday, January 28, 2013, at Kramer Funeral Home in Holy Cross where a vigil service will be held at 5:00 p.m. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, January 29, 2013, at Holy Cross Catholic Church with burial in the church cemetery. Rev. Raymond Burkle will officiate. Helen was born November 1, 1921 in Sherrill, Iowa, the daughter of Louis and Viola (Tigges) Klein. She married Edgar Sweeney on August 21, 1941 in Sherrill. They farmed in Holy Cross until his death on May 16, 1971. Helen later married Cletus Osterhaus on August 27, 1977 in Holy Cross, Iowa. He died May 9, 1994. She was a member of the Resurrection Parish and a volunteer at the Dubuque Arboretum for many years. Survivors include 11 children: Roger (Donna) Sweeney of Holy Cross, Terry (Mary Ann) Sweeney of Marion, Sheila (John) Zasoba of Naples, FL, Sharon (John) Neel of Riverton, WY, Tim (Linda) Sweeney of Mt. Horeb, WI, Colleen (Don) Carl of Hutchinson, MN, Jan (Cindy) Sweeney, Pat (Stacy) Sweeney, and Mary Jean Sweeney all of Dubuque, Lisa (Scott) Grekoff of Cedar Rapids, and Kathleen (Tim) Shores of Hartford, WI; stepdaughter, Deb Osterhaus, 2 step daughter-in-laws: Karen Osterhaus and Marilyn (Ron) LeClaire; 22 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; 7 step grandchildren; and several step great-grandchildren; a sister Viola Wild of Dubuque; 4 sister-in-laws: Romana Sweeney, Florabelle Kluesner, Evelyn Friedman, and Verna Klosterman; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; first husband, Edgar Sweeney; her second husband, Cletus Osterhaus; a brother, Sylvester Klein; a sister, Hilda Schueller; 2 stepsons: Dale Osterhaus in 1990 and Dennis Osterhaus in 1987; in-laws: Esther (Al) Wagner, Monica (Leo) Steffen, Bernadette Sweeney, Mark (Jeanette) Sweeney, Marcella (Joe) Van Zile, Cyril (Rosina) Sweeney, Clarinda (George) Klosterman, and Sylvia (Ed) Breitbach. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.kramerfuneral.com.