White Funeral Home
400 1st Street West
Independence, Iowa 50644

Independence - Helen Marie Buchheit, 80 years old, of Independence, IA, died Sunday, January 9, 2011, at the Buchanan County Health Center, Independence, IA, of congestive heart failure with her family by her side. She was born December 27, 1930, in Bangor, ME, the daughter of Elmer Thomas Rockwell and Sara Josephine (Arseneau) Rockwell. She graduated from Bangor High School with the class of 1950 and then served in the US Air Force from 1951 – 1954, mostly working at the Pentagon in Washington, DC. While in Washington, she met her future husband, Sabinus Anthony “Sonny” Buchheit. They were married November 13, 1954, at the South Chapel at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA. They made their home in Independence, IA, where they raised their family.

Mrs. Buchheit was an active volunteer. She created 140 lap quilts for patients at the V.A. Hospital in Iowa City, IA, and 26 lap quilts for children at the Mental Health Institute in Independence. She was a tutor for adults with literacy problems and taught various craft classes. She was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church in Independence, the Rosary Society, Catholic Daughters of the Americas, the Calico Cut Ups Quilting Guild, and the Northeast Iowa Weavers and Spinners Guild.

Helen is survived by her husband, Sabinus “Sonny” Buchheit, Independence, IA; four sons, David (Rosann) Buchheit of Dyersville, IA, Alan Buchheit of Cedar Falls, IA, Scott (Cindy) Buchheit of Ladson, SC, and Norman Buchheit of Independence, IA; four daughters, Cindy (John) White of Jesup, IA, Jennifer Buchheit of West Des Moines, IA, Deb (Robert) Burger, Marion, IA, Barb (Mark) Haisch of Clive, IA; 21 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, 1 sister, Shirley (William) Bass of Pearl, MS; three brothers, Forest Rockwell of Holden, ME, Ernest Rockwell, and Hollis (Linda) Rockwell of Eddington, ME.

She was preceded in death by her parents, three sisters, Margaret Cameron, Bertha Grant and Claire Rockwell (in infancy), one brother, Elmer Rockwell, Jr. and 3 half brothers, Donald Eckard, Robert Arseneau, and LeRoy McCready.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, January 13, 2011, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Independence. Rev. Donald Plamondon will be the Celebrant. Music will be provided by Mrs. Bonnie O’Brien, pianist, Mr. Todd Rohlfsen, vocal soloist, and the St. John’s Choir. Casket Bearers will be Tom Buchheit, Brian White, Zach Buchheit, Andy Buchheit, Jacob Allen, Jeremy Allen, Joseph Allen, Alex Buchheit, Scotty Buchheit, Dustin Delk, and Danny Haisch. Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Independence with Military Rites by Pump-Scheer American Legion Post #352 of Jesup, Iowa.

Friends may call for visitation from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Wednesday, January 12, at the White Funeral Home in Independence where a Parish/C.D.A. Rosary begins at 3 p.m. and a Vigil Service begins at 6 p.m.