Helen V. John, 96, Iola, died Monday, Jan. 12, 2015, at Windsor Place in Iola.
Helen was born June 28, 1918, in Brazilton, the daughter of Dick and Verna (Meyer) Bruenjes, and grew up in the Stark and Walnut areas.
On Oct. 31, 1937, Helen married George W. John and they made their home on a farm at Stark. Besides being a farm wife, Helen worked at the ASC office in Erie before she retired. Mr. John preceded her in death on Dec. 17, 1990. She moved from Stark to Iola in 2003 to live closer to her family.
Helen was a member of Stark United Methodist Church and quilt club, and numerous artist clubs. She played the piano at church for many years. She was an excellent cook and talented artist. She painted hundreds of oil paintings earning numerous awards and recognitions.
She is survived by a sister, Erma Miller, Fort Worth, Texas; five grandchildren, Teresa Ross and husband Toby, Iola, Tammie Cloud and husband Curtis, Iola, Tina Bruner and husband Terry, Shawnee, Brenda Riedel and husband Brian, Wichita, and Julie Ramsey, Parsons; a daughter-in-law, Marilyn Davis and husband Gerald, Iola; 12 great-grandchildren, Heather Sigg, Amanda Stiffler and Travis Sigg, Iola, Justin Sigg, Phoenix, Ariz., Ryan Cloud, Overland Park, Jessica Hedden, Oklahoma City, Brandon Westerman, Iola, Erik Rodriguez, Wichita, Ariel Rodriguez, Lawrence, and Joshua, Jeffery and Joey Ramsey, Parsons; 10 great-great-grandchildren and four nieces.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband George, son James and sister Marie Bruenjes Brenner.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Stark United Methodist Church. Burial will be at Mount Moriah Cemetery north of Stark. The family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m. Friday at Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Chapel in Iola.
Memorial gifts to Stark United Methodist Church may be left with the funeral home.
To sign the guestbook online or leave a condolence, go to www.iolafuneral.com.
Helen John
