Helen Louise HEYEN

Helen Louise Heyen

LINCOLN, IL - Helen Louise Heyen, 83, passed away Monday, March 17, 2014, at The Christian Village.

Visitation will be Thursday, March 20, 2014, from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Holland Barry & Bennett Funeral Home in Lincoln. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m., also at the funeral home, the Rev. Michael Paulson officiating. Burial will follow at Irish Grove Cemetery in Middletown, Ill.

Helen was born Nov. 26, 1930, in Middletown, Ill., the daughter of Roy Boward and Ida (Bock) Boward. She married Merlyn C. Heyen on June 7, 1952, in Middletown. He preceded her in death on Jan. 29, 2002.

Helen retired as a school teacher after having taught at Tri City Schools and in Middletown.

Starting in late 1992, Helen along with her husband, Merlyn, served on an ad-hoc committee to study the feasibility of organizing a county food pantry sponsored by a coalition of churches. When the Logan County Food Pantry opened in May of 1993, they became the first volunteers to manage the food pantry. The coalition has grown to 31 churches and the Heyen's have continued to provide leadership to this group.

She was a member of the Lincoln First United Methodist Church where she was also involved in the Methodist Women's Group. Helen had a passion for gardening and enjoyed tending to her flowers.

Surviving are her son, Keith Heyen of Crystal Lake, Ill.; granddaughter, Lauren Heyen of London; grandson, Kyle Heyen of Crystal Lake, Ill.; and sister, Jean Johnson of Middletown, Ill.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Merlyn; and her siblings: Donald Boward, Ruby Snowder, and Hazel Knotts.

Memorials may be made to the Logan County Food Pantry or to Safe Haven Hospice and will be accepted at the funeral home.