Helen Louise Dawes

Helen Dawes, 96, of Adel, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on March 22, 2023 at Kavanagh House in Des Moines.

Helen was born on February 4, 1927 to Ruby Dawson Wicks of rural Adel, her father, Leroy Wicks, died 12 days before she was born. Helen grew up on a farm northwest of Adel along with her three siblings. She attended Colfax Township Country school as a child, and graduated from Adel High School in 1946. After graduation, she worked with her sister, Lola, in Des Moines at the ACS office and the Iowa State Tax Commission.

Helen married Lowell Dawes on June 6, 1948. Helen and Lowell grew up less than half a mile from each other. They rode horses together to the country school and both went to Adel High School. Lowell and Helen celebrated 67 wedding anniversaries together.

Her family and faith were always the center of her life. During their marriage, they became wonderful parents to Randy, Nick, Barb and John. Helen was a devoted farm wife and loving mother in their busy household. Later in life, she became a “get down on the floor and play” kind of grandma and always loved spending time with her grandkids and great grandkids.

Helen enjoyed sports and enjoyed watching her kids, grandkids and great grands play whenever she could. She was also a TV fan of Hawkeye and Cyclone basketball and football. She enjoyed cooking, entertaining, sewing, and golfing. On May 23, 2000 she even had a hole in one and continued golfing well into her 80s. She enjoyed her S&V Club, card party groups, the Red Hat Society, and playing cribbage and bridge. She was a kind person who loved people and made friends wherever she went.

Helen grew up in the Panther Creek Church of the Brethren and was active in the church her entire life. She taught Sunday school, served on the Church Board, decorated the worship center, and worked with the Women’s Fellowship and Food Committees.

Helen will be greatly missed by her surviving children; Nick (Peg) Dawes of Adel, Barb Dawes of West Des Moines, John (Mark Walker) of the Villages, Florida; daughter-in-law Marilyn Dawes of Bonita Springs, Florida; grandchildren, Lori (Ben) Davis, Brent (Annie) Dawes, Beau (Amie) Dawes, Colby (Angela) Dawes, Christine (Cory Fisher) Sadley, Katelyn (Cullan Hopkins) Sadley, Sara (Justin ) Di Stefano, Anna Dawes and Maria Dawes, great grandchildren Breannah, Brock and Troy Davis, Adalyn and Abigail Dawes, Leah, Blake and Lane Dawes, Braylon and Bryce Dawes, Kaylee, Parker and Jaxson Cary and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Lowell, her son C Randall (Randy) Dawes, her sisters Edith Carol Barton and Lola Knoll; brother Robert Wicks; and granddaughter-in-law Laurie Tryon Dawes.

A visitation for Helen will be held Monday March 27, 2023 from 4:00-6:00 PM at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home in Adel. A funeral service to celebrate Helen’s life will be held March 28, 2023  at 11:00 AM  at Panther Creek Church of the Brethren northwest of Adel. Burial will take place at the Oakdale Cemetery in Adel. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed in Helen’s memory to the Panther Creek Church or to a charity of your choice. Online condolences may be left at www.caldwellparrish.com