Helen M. Kalmes

Helen M. Kalmes, 77, of St. Donatus, passed away Thursday evening, July 27, 2017 surrounded by family, at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, in Iowa City. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00am, Monday, July 31 at St. Donatus Catholic Church in St. Donatus. Burial will be held in the Parish Cemetery. Visitation for Helen will be from 1:00 5:00pm Sunday afternoon at the St. Donatus Catholic Church and again Monday morning from 9:00-10:30am also at the church.Helen was born on August 11, 1939, in New Vienna, the daughter of Albert and Alvina (Heying) Ploessl. She married Lawrence Windy Kalmes on August 20, 1957.Helen and her husband, Windy, have owned and operated Kalmes Restaurant since 1956. Even up until this week, she remained one of the people most integral to daily operation and wasnt planning on retiring anytime soon. Helen was a hard worker and was dedicated to the family business, but still always made time to help others. She was very easy to talk to and treated all her employees and many customers as if they were her children. Helen also kept busy outside the restaurant. She served on the St. Donatus City Council for many years. She was also a member of the Luxembourg Society, Rosary Society, and a part owner of the Gehlen House. Helen loved to play cards and to occasionally play the slots. In her earlier years, she enjoyed playing softball, rope pulling, bowling and watching the Cubs. Helen and Windy enjoyed traveling. They regularly went to Luxembourg and enjoyed an annual trip to Las Vegas.Helen was truly one of a kind and will be deeply missed.Helen will be greatly missed by her husband of 59 years, Lawrence Windy Kalmes, of St. Donatus; children, Mike (Theresa) Kalmes, Jim (Lori) Kalmes, John (Lou Ann) Kalmes, Brian (Barb) Kalmes and Jodi (Willie) Hingtgen; 15 grandchildren, and 17 great grandchildren. She will also be remembered by her brothers, Cyril (Marilyn), of Bellevue, Sylvester (Wilma) of Dubuque, Larry (Linda) of Farley: and sisters Ruth Ambrosy of Dubuque, and Mary Lou Heinricy, of Dubuque; and three sisters in-law, Rosalie Ploessl, Mariella Berthel and Marie Herrig.Helen was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers Albert and Arthur Art Ploessl and a sister, Judy Nemmers.