Helen Kuntz, 87, of Osage, passed away on Monday, January 26, 2026, at Faith Lutheran Home in Osage.
A funeral service for Helen will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Grafton. Burial will follow at Grafton Cemetery. A time of fellowship will be held after the graveside service at the church.
Helen L. (Mitchell) Kuntz was born on September 25, 1938, in Carlinville, Illinois, to Thomas D. and Allie Lorene (Masters) Mitchell. She was the third of four children: Verna, Gerald, Helen and Robert Mitchell.
At age 16, Helen moved to Iowa to live with her great-aunt, Florence Masters, where she was also welcomed into the Ward family. She finished high school in Guthrie Center, Iowa, before relocating to Mason City to attend college and work part-time for her cousins, Dr. Ronald Masters and Dr. Maurice Masters.
After graduation, Helen moved to Des Moines, where she worked at Utica Beauty Salon. A year later, she returned to Mason City to teach at La James Beauty College.
On July 19, 1959, Helen married Garry D. Kuntz of Grafton, Iowa. They made their first home in St. Ansgar for one year before moving to Grafton, where they later built their first home on the edge of town.
While living in Grafton, Helen opened Helen’s Beauty Shop, owning and operating the business for many years until the family moved to their farmstead.
In 1975, Helen and Garry built their second home on a farm near Carpenter, Iowa, and she later worked at the St. Ansgar State Bank. After raising their daughters, they enjoyed traveling both domestically and internationally. In 2012, they purchased a home in Mission, Texas, where they spent many of their happiest retirement years wintering.
Eventually, they made their home at Faith Assisted Living and Faith Lutheran Home in Osage. The family extends its sincere appreciation to the staff of both facilities for their loving care.
Helen is survived by her daughters: Vicki (Danny) Clark of rural Plymouth, Rhonda (Lynn) Hemann of Osage, and Tammy (Curt) Clausen of Manly; six grandchildren: Amber (Scott) Van Ryswyk of Prairie City, T.J. (Leah) Clark of Lincoln, Nebraska, Ivy (Kendal) Sickels of Osage, Jake (Breanne) Hemann of Osage, Jess (Katelyn) Clausen of Ankeny, and Jewel Clausen of Mason City; and ten great-grandchildren: Ellie, Emriana, Isaiah, Judah, and August Clark, Violet and Oakley Sickels, Arie and Sullivan Van Ryswyk, and Hattie Hemann. She is also survived by her brothers and sisters-in-law: Harlan (Marsha) Kuntz, Cleone (Duane) King, Larry (Yvonne) Ward, and Gary (Jennifer) Ward.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Garry Kuntz; her parents, Jess and Arlene Ward; her great-aunt, Florence Masters; her father- and mother-in-law, Earl and Alice Kuntz; her brother and sister-in-law, Robert (Bob) and Shirley Mitchell; and one great-granddaughter, Isla Clark.
Hauser Weishaar Funeral Home, (641) 228-2323, 1205 South Main Street, Charles City, Iowa 50616 is in charge of local arrangements. Online condolences may be left on the Tribute Wall for the family at www.hauserfh.com.
