Doris "Helen" Vos

Doris Helen Rodgers Vos was born July 10, 1931, in Mahaska County, Iowa. She worked on the family farm alongside her father choring, participated in 4H, attended Central United Methodist Church with her family and, after graduating from high school, attended Asbury College in Kentucky. She married Gene in 1950 at the Spencer Chapel of William Penn College. After Gene's service with the US Army in Korea, they moved to Colorado to finish his teaching degree and that is where their first two daughters were born. They then returned to Iowa and raised their four children Vivian, Valerie, Blaine, and Jylene in Chariton and then Marshalltown. Helen was a full-time homemaker. She was a skilled seamstress sewing clothes for the family and even fashioned Valerie's wedding gown. She was a faithful member of the Marshalltown Church of the Nazarene, serving as missionary society president, VBS director, and Sunday school teacher. Helen cared for children in her home and later worked in the public school system. In the community, she helped lead Christian Women's Club. She led Bible studies, housed visiting missionaries and had an evangelist's heart. At Gene's retirement, they returned to Oskaloosa where, in 1988, with Blaine's help, they built a log house. They fellowshipped at the Gateway Church of the Nazarene and remained close to lifelong friends and family. After being received in heaven on Thursday, January 16, 2025, by her Faithful Savior, she was reunited with Gene, Blaine, her parents Floyd and Martha Rodgers, and her sister Marlene Lierow. She is survived by her daughters Vivian (Greg) of University Park, Valerie (Tracy) of Virginia, Jylene (Dan) of Florida, daughter-in-law Joan (Blaine, deceased) of Oskaloosa, brother Duward (Chiyoko) of Hawaii, seven grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. She loved spending her last two years at the log house on Brown Thrush Ridge being cared for by Joan. For that special care, Helen's family is deeply grateful. She received compassionate and outstanding care her last four days at Mahaska Serenity House.The family held a private burial at University Park Cemetery aided by Bates Funeral Chapel. The memorial service will be held at 11am, August 9, 2025, at Gateway Church of the Nazarene, Oskaloosa, Iowa. Guests are invited to bring a dish and join the family for a potluck meal immediately after the service. Helen's family and friends know how much the butterfly meant to her as a symbol of rebirth and new life in Christ. At her memorial service, there will be several of her butterfly pieces out for keepsakes for those in attendance to take. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Nazarene Missions International, Stonecroft Ministries or Jamaica Mission from Iowa at PO Box 125, University Park IA, 52595