Helen J. Willard was born July 14, 1926, in Hebron, to George and Marie (Ross) Neemann and passed away July 27, 2023, in Lincoln, at the age of 97 years and 13 days.
Helen was baptized Aug. 22, 1926, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Gilead by Rev. Bangert. Helen attended grade school and high school in Hebron and graduated in May of 1944. She was united in marriage to Richard T. Willard on June 19, 1944, and to this union, two children were born, Joan and Gary. The couple lived in the Seward and Milford areas. Helen was employed at Union Insurance in Lincoln and Southeast Community College in Milford as an assistant registrar. She ran a ceramic business and taught classes in her home in Milford for several years. In 1977, she was united in marriage to Vern Willard. The couple purchased a motel in Florence, Kansas, and sold it after four years to retire to Newton, Kansas. Helen was a member of the Seward Junior Women’s Club and Milford American Legion Women’s Auxiliary.
Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Willard, and second husband, Vern Willard; daughter, Joan Storey; and parents, George and Marie Neemann. She is survived by her son, Gary Willard; son-in-law, Ray Storey; granddaughters, Melissa Smith (John Connell), Jen (Zak) King, and Nicole (Dillon) Jasper; great-grandchildren, Austin Adams, Kylee Adams and Lilee Smith, Harley Davison, Alexis Davison, Brooklyn Davison and Gage Davison, Carter Jasper and Jaxon Jasper; cousins and a host of friends.
The funeral service was July 31 with interment at the Rose Hill Cemetery in Hebron. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Willard family for future designations. Arrangements by Zabka-Perdue Funeral Home.
