Helen K. (Dinkel) Leiker

Helen K. Leiker

Helen K. Leiker, 97, longtime Antonino resident, died on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 at Ellis Good Samaritan Society.

She was born April 2, 1927 in Victoria, the daughter of John A. and Mary (Rome) Dinkel.  On October 15, 1946 she was united in marriage to Christian J. Leiker in Victoria, and they celebrated 55 years of marriage before he preceded her in death on January 21, 2002.  Helen was a hardworking farmwife and homemaker.  She enjoyed gardening with Christian, canning, making homemade noodles, and baking delicious desserts including lemon meringue pie and a variety of Christmas cookies.  She loved crocheting afghans, embroidering tea towels, and making quilts for her family and every grandchild.  Helen was a member of Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church, Antonino Christian Mothers, and possessed a deep faith and a devotion to the rosary.

Survivors include two daughters, Paullette Leiker and Sharon Staab and husband Jerry and their children; Lyle Hammerschmidt (Abby) and their children Maylee and Bo, Ross Hammerschmidt (fiancé Kendra Barnes) and their daughter Amy, Abby Stapleton and her daughter Diana, Curt Staab (Beth) and their children Ryan, Collin, and Trevor, and Sara Verbeck (Todd) and their son Cody, a daughter-in-law, Linnea Leiker and her children, Chris Leiker (Kielin Green), and their son Seiran, Antoinette Sandy (Seth) and their son Oliver, and Alex Leiker (Holly) and their son Ripley, a son-in-law, Greg Pelz and his children, James Pelz and his son Asher, Shannon Pelz and her children, Maggy Correa (Jimmy) and their children Belle and Reyna Correa and Destiny Woodis, and Kate Laws, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Christian, a son Darrell Leiker, an infant son, a daughter Ivorgene Pelz, four brothers, Andrew, infant Richard, Albert, and Elmer Dinkel and four sisters, Pauline VonFeldt, infant Katherine, and Magdalen and Albina Dinkel, and two great grandsons, Trae Wipple and Cody Cawood.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Saturday, April 13, 2024 at Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church in Antonino with Fr. Curtis Carlson, OFM Cap. officiating.  Burial will follow in St. Francis Cemetery in Munjor.  Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 7:00 on Friday and from 9:00 am until 9:30 on Saturday, all at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.  A Christian Mothers rosary will be at 6:00 pm followed by a vigil service at 6:30, both on Friday at the funeral home.  Memorials are suggested to St. Francis Cemetery.  Condolences and memories of Helen may be shared with her family at www.haysmemorial.com 

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