Obituary of Joan Helmers

Joan Ranae (Walker) Helmers, the daughter of Vivian (Muilenburg) and LeRoy Walker, was born on January 9, 1953, in Sheldon, Iowa. She grew up on her parents’ farm near Melvin, Iowa, and graduated from Melvin High School in 1971. In September of 1971, she was united in marriage to Paul W. Helmers. Following their marriage, the couple lived in Allendorf, Iowa for three years, and then moved onto a farm near Melvin where they raised their two sons, Matthew and Timothy. Joan began her long-time position as a program technician for the Farm Services Agency in Primghar, Iowa in 1990. After Paul was killed in an automobile accident in 1993, she continued living on the farm for another year. The farmhouse was destroyed by fire in 1994. She then moved into a house in Melvin. Joan was a member of the United Methodist Church and UMW in Melvin. She loved antiques and gardening. She enjoyed working outdoors, and tended her lawn and flowerbeds with great love and care. Her grandchildren will always cherish the memories of Grandma Joan helping them with their 4-H projects and making gingerbread houses at Christmastime. She was always there to eat something her boys had cooked up at one of the area cook-offs. In the summer of 2009, her own battle with lung cancer forced her early retirement from the FSA. She passed away at the Sanford Hospice Sunset Cottage in Worthington, Minnesota on Sunday, February 7, 2010. She was 57. Joan is survived by her sons and their families, Matthew and Shelly of Melvin, and Timothy and Jessica of Sanborn; three grandchildren: Todd, Trista and Trever; a brother, Lionel “Butch” (Theresa) Walker; three sisters, Janice (Lee) Nelson, Mary Steinmetz, and Cynthia (Joe) Armstrong; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Wendell and Ruth Helmers of Sibley, Iowa; two brothers-in-law, Mark “Hiene” (Denise) Helmers and Jerry (Lindsay) Helmers; other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Paul, and a brother-in-law, Rod Erkes. Celebrating the life of Joan R. Helmers Born ~ January 9, 1953 Died ~ February 7, 2010 Age ~ 57 years 28 days Funeral Service 10:30 a.m. Thursday, February 11, 2010 United Methodist Church Melvin, Iowa Officiating ~ Rev. David Finley Organist ~ Pat Wachtel Congregational Singing “In the Garden” “How Great Thou Art” Pallbearers Joe Schiphoff Gary Schiphoff Danny Beek Rex Michelson Michael Schiphoff Booger Michelson Honorary Pallbearers Lorna Schiphoff LuAnn Schiphoff Darla Beek Julie Michelson Marne Schiphoff Kaylin Schuetz Amy Beek Ushers Daryle Daggett Jeff Schultz Steve Wachtel Burial Baker Township Cemetery ~ Melvin, Iowa