Helen Craft

Helen Margaret Craft was born October 18, 1927, to Guy and Hazel (Thoreson) Heistand near Pisgah, Iowa. She was raised in the Pisgah, Dunlap, and Woodbine areas. Helen graduated from Woodbine High School with a Normal Training Teaching Certificate in 1945. She taught country school near Dunlap after graduation. Helen married Howard "Bud" Craft on May 19, 1946 at the Lutheran Church in Harlan, IA. The couple then moved to the Craft family farm east of Logan. Bud died May 30, 1983. Helen met Bill Barnes in 1988. In 1992, Bill built Helen's house and the couple lived together until Bill's death in 1999.
Helen worked on the family farm alongside her husband. After Bud's death, Helen worked as a substitute teacher, a cook at Harvey's Fine Foods and RD's restaurant in Logan and for West Central Development where she held various jobs until retiring August 6, 2009 at the age of 82.
Helen loved to dance, fish, and hunt. She enjoyed tending to her yard and flowers, as well as play darts and go to the casino. She mainly loved spending time with family and friends.
Helen died Wednesday, August 21, 2013, at Rose Vista Nursing Home in Woodbine at the age of 85 years, ten months, and three days.
Helen was preceded in death by her husband; daughter Deb Jochims; 3 brother, Leo, Bob, and Gerald Heistand; and 2 sisters, Marva Jacobsen, and Leanna McDonald. She is survived by her daughter Jan and her husband Joe Barnhart of Carter Lake, Iowa; 3 sons, Rick Craft and his wife Jan of Neola, Iowa, Tony Craft and his wife Patty and Jim Craft and his wife Kelly all of Logan, Iowa; 14 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; sister, Delores Schrom of Enon, OH; and many other relatives and friends.