Helen M. Dwyer

Helen M. Dwyer, 93, of Geneseo, formerly of rural Atkinson, died Sunday, Feb. 18, 2018, at Genesis Medical Center East, Davenport, IA. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 27, at St. Malachy Catholic Church. Father Michael Pakula will celebrate. Burial will follow at St. Anthony Cemetery, Atkinson. Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Monday, February 26, at Vandemore Funeral Home & Crematory, in Geneseo. The rosary will be recited at 6:45 p.m. Memorials may be left to St. Malachy Catholic Church or the Henry County Fair Association.

Helen was born at home during a snowstorm in Rochester, NY, on Dec. 21, 1924, the daughter of Isadore and Doris “Nellie” (Pridat) Van Der Bruggen. At the age of eight, her family moved to Kewanee. Helen attended Kewanee High School. Prior to her marriage, she worked at Boss Glove Manufacturing and Walworth Manufacturing, both in Kewanee.

Helen married John Dwyer on June 28, 1944, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, in Kewanee. He preceded her in death on March 30, 1989. The couple farmed in rural Atkinson. She was a farm wife, homemaker and proud mother of ten children – one daughter and nine sons. She was a member of St. Malachy Catholic Church and the Altar & Rosary Society. She previously was a member of several card clubs and had been the oldest member of the local Curves gym. She took pleasure in all family gatherings. She enjoyed knitting, puzzles, and reading.

She is survived by her children, Doris Fleming, of Gibson City, Jim (Norma) Dwyer, Greeley, CO, Tom (Chris) Dwyer, John (Joy) Dwyer, Joe (Lisa) Dwyer, all of Geneseo, Mike (Janette) Dwyer, Atkinson, Bob (Cathy) Dwyer, Roseville, Dennis (Jacque) Dwyer, Bettendorf, IA and Richard (Nora) Dwyer, Muscatine, IA. She is survived by 25 grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and eight step-great-grandchildren. Other survivors include her sister, Maryin Weckelman and sisters-in-law Rhea Dwyer and Marilyn Van Der Bruggen. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a son, Bill Dwyer, a great-granddaughter, Machala, her brother, Art, and sister, Gay.