Helen R. Harvey, 88, of Morrison, IL, died Tuesday, August 16, 2016, at her home.
Helen was born August 2, 1928, in Newton Township, IL, to Walter P. and Catherine E. (Sullivan) Naftzger. She was educated in the Slocum Street Grade School of rural Whiteside County and was a 1946 graduate of Erie High School in Erie, IL. She received an Associate’s Degree in Education from Mt. Saint Clare College in Clinton, IA, and a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Marycrest College in Davenport, IA. On April 16, 1949, she married Donald O. Harvey in Fulton, IL. He died on January 5, 1984. Helen was employed as an elementary school teacher in the rural Whiteside County school system, and was actively involved in farming on the family farm. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Morrison, and participated in the church’s Altar and Rosary Society. She also served as a Eucharistic Minister, C.C.D. teacher, and funeral luncheon coordinator. Helen was an election judge for Union Grove Township and was a member of the Whiteside County Home Extension and “Busy Bees” neighborhood club. She enjoyed gardening, reading, and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. Helen was an avid supporter of the 4-H program.
Survivors include three daughters, Nancy (Bob) Countryman of Fulton, IL, Marilyn (Craig) Janssen of Lyndon, IL, and Beth (Mark) Armstrong of Erie; six grandchildren, Kimberly (Matt) Ewoldsen, Daniel (Julie) Janssen, Adam (Michelle) Janssen, Catherine “Katie” Armstrong, Joseph Donald (Ashley) Armstrong, Matthew Armstrong; eight great-grandchildren, Owen and Kelsey Ewoldsen, Ethan, Makenna, and Haley Janssen, Macie and Ava Janssen, and Jack Armstrong; two step-great-grandchildren, Jocelyn and Andrew Enright; three sisters-in-law, Camilla Naftzger, Iona Harvey, and Darlene (Don) Foster; many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Don; two sisters, Dorothy Enright and Marion Beswick; one brother, Rolland Naftzger.
FUNERAL MASS: 10:00 a.m., Saturday, August 20, 2016, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Morrison, IL
OFFICIATING: Rev. Father Daniel Peters
VISITATION: 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., Friday, August 19, 2016, at the Morrison Chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home
INTERMENT: Grove Hill Cemetery, Morrison, IL
Memorials to St. Mary’s Catholic Church and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital have been established.