Helen Eckerman

Helen Eckerman, 92 of Conrad, IA passed away Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at the Oakview Nursing Home in Conrad. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, February 14, 2025, at St. Francis of Assisi - St. Henry Catholic Church in Marshalltown, IA. Visitation will be 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Thursday, February 13, 2025, at the Conrad Chapel of Anderson Funeral Homes with a vigil service beginning at 7:00 p.m. A luncheon will be held immediately following Mass at St. Henry. Interment will follow at the Conrad Cemetery. Anderson Funeral Homes has been entrusted with the arrangements. Online condolences may be sent www.andersonfhs.com.
Helen Bernice Eckerman, a beloved mother, grandmother, and dedicated nurse, passed away, leaving behind a legacy of love, care, and unwavering devotion to her family and community. Born on January 28, 1933, on a farm near Odebolt, Iowa, Helen was the eighth of ten children born to Albert and Pearl Landgraf. She graduated from Odebolt High School in 1950 and pursued her passion for nursing, earning her degree from Saint Anthony School of Nursing in Carroll, Iowa, in 1953.
Shortly after graduating, Helen embarked on an adventure to New York, unaware of the results of her nursing boards. It was there, on October 3, 1953, that she married the love of her life, Paul Eckerman, who was stationed in the Navy. Helen soon learned she had passed her boards and began working at a hospital on Long Island. Their first son, Rick, was born a year later. In 1955, Helen and Paul returned to Iowa, settling in Storm Lake, where Helen continued her nursing career and welcomed two more children, Mark and Paula.
The family moved to Whitten in 1960 and then in 1973 to Conrad, Iowa. Helen dedicated 33 years of her life as a registered nurse at the Conrad Clinic. Even after retiring, she continued to work part-time, driven by her passion for caring of others. Helen's kindness and compassion touched countless lives throughout her career.
Family was the center of Helen's world. She cherished spending time with her grandchildren, playing games, and reading to them. Holidays were a special time for Helen, as she loved hosting gatherings and bringing her family together. A dedicated walker, she maintained her daily routine well into her 80s. Her devotion to Paul was unwavering. After he entered the nursing home in 2016, she visited him every day, spending afternoons by his side until his passing. The couple shared 67 years of marriage.
Helen was an active member of St. Francis of Assisi Parish and volunteered in the kitchen for funeral meals for many years. She was also a proud member of the Conrad American Legion Auxiliary.
Helen is survived by her two sons, Rick (Mary) Eckerman of Conrad and Mark Eckerman of Grinnell, her daughter, Paula (Mike) Benson of Conrad, nine grandchildren, Laura (Jeremy) Harrod, Nick Eckerman, Andrea Benson, Joel (Morgan) Benson, Breanne (Joe) Bitz, Kayla (Arnell) Powell, Sara (Travis) Barr, Tanner Eckerman, and Jonathan Eckerman, eight great-grandchildren, and three siblings, George Landgraf, Jean Jackson, and Lois Kipf. She is preceded in death by her husband, Paul, her first grandson, Matthew Paul Eckerman, her parents, and six sisters.
Helen's kindness, dedication, and love will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Her legacy of compassion and family devotion will live on in the hearts of those she touched.