Helen Catherine Schleier

Helen Catherine (Peterson) Schleier, aged 94, of Des Moines, Iowa, passed away on January 8, 2024, at Windsor Manor in Indianola, Iowa.

Helen was born on January 26, 1929, in Hiteman, Iowa, to Harry Cleaton (H.C.) Peterson and Bernice Morehead Peterson. Helen began working for her father as a young girl, clerking farm auctions and livestock sales at the Albia Sale Barn. Helen had an amazing ability to remember names and was very proficient with numbers, which resulted in Helen being hired by other auctioneers for their sale days.

Helen graduated from Albia High School in 1947 and attended college at Saint Mary's of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, majoring in Chemistry. Home from college, Helen met Ivo John Schleier when Helen's brother, Dr. Pat Peterson, D.V.M., married John's sister, Kathleen Schleier. Helen married John Schleier on July 26, 1948, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Albia, Iowa.

Helen and John worked side-by-side for years as independent insurance agents at the Schleier Insurance Agency located on the Square in Albia and operated a 160-acre farm. When Helen and John divorced, she moved to Des Moines, where she worked in the insurance field. Helen eventually formed an insurance agency of her own, the ABCO Insurance Agency, in West Des Moines. As proof of her insurance business knowledge, Helen was elected by her insurance agent peers as the first woman to serve as the President of the Iowa Independent Insurance Agents Association. Helen loved socializing, hearing and telling a good joke, and playing cards, especially poker, bridge, and solitaire.

A product of the Depression, Helen was self-sufficient, rich in common sense, and had empathy for others in need. Retired after selling her insurance business, when a close friend's husband suffered a debilitating stroke, Helen volunteered to help by cleaning her house for free. When Helen's friend bragged about Helen's cleaning prowess to her friends, they hired Helen to clean their homes.

During a game of bridge, a lady playing criticized Helen for working so late in life, calling Helen's decision "stupid." Helen remarked that this lady paid a lot of money to visit a gym regularly and that her job cleaning houses provided an excellent physical workout, and she made money versus paying for a gym membership, "So, who is the stupid one at this table, you or me?"

Helen is survived by her only sister, Margaret (Peg) (Peterson) Haluska, of Decorah, Iowa, daughters Mary Krug and Laura Capaldo, both of Des Moines, Iowa, and sons Dr. Paul Schleier, D.D.S. (Kathleen Bailey) of Bruchmuhlbach, Germany, and Jim Schleier (Amy) of rural Madrid, Iowa. Helen also leaves behind 11 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and five brothers, Harold (Beaumont, Texas), Patrick, Russell, Donald, and John (of Albia); two sons, Mark and Phillip Schleier; two grandsons, Derek Schleier and Lucas Carper, and a son-in-law, Gregory Krug.

A celebration of her life, along with a Catholic Mass and a private burial service, is planned.