Helen G. Haman, age 96 of Marengo, died Saturday, November 29, 2008 at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City following a brief illness. Funeral Services: 10:30 A.M. Wednesday, December 3, 2008, Trinity United Church of Christ, rural Marengo, with Rev. Bev Thompson-Travis officiating. Burial will be in Genoa Bluff Cemetery, rural Marengo. Friends may call from 3 to 7 P.M. Tuesday, December 2, 2008 at Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo. Memorials may be contributed to Trinity United Church of Christ, Marengo Memorial Hospital or Iowa City Hospice.

She is survived by two daughters, Eleanor Pivonka (William) of Spokane, WA and Alice Baumgartner of Waterloo, IA; a son Alan Haman (Eileen) of Versailles, KY; 4 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild and three sisters, Frieda Reno of Marshalltown, Thelma Dietrich (Leonard) of Williamsburg and Dorothy Miller (Elmer) of Vinton. She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, Herman, Ernest and John and a son-in-law, Edward Baumgartner.

Helen Punke was born February 15, 1912 near Victor, Iowa, the daughter of Charles and Ica Mercer Punke. She moved with her family to New Mexico at a young age, returning to Iowa in 1928. She was employed at the Marengo Creamery and the Citizens Telephone Co. during her high school years. Helen graduated from Marengo High School in 1932and continued to work at the telephone company as a secretary/stenographer. She married Henry H. Haman on August 20, 1934. The couple made their home in the Genoa Bluff area where Henry operated Haman Garage until 1974. The couple then moved to Marengo, where Helen did sewing and hand-quilting for many area residents, along with working at the Marengo Fabric Shop. She was a member of Trinity United Church of Christ, rural Marengo. Helen has made her home at Highland Ridge in Williamsburg since 2007.