Helen Ann Juelsgaard

1922 - 2024

Helen Ann Juelsgaard was born on Oct. 24, 1922, on the family farm near Defiance, the second oldest of 10 children to Nicholas and Mary (Eckerman) Kenkel. Her family and her faith were the mainstay of her life. She attended St. Paul Catholic School in Defiance, graduating with the Class of 1939, and attended one year of college at Mount Saint Scholastica College in Atchison, Kan. She then landed a job with the Agricultural Adjustment Administration in Harlan in 1943 and continued working there until her marriage to Glen Juelsgaard on Dec. 31, 1947 at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Defiance. They began their married life on farms in the Atlantic and Walnut area. In 1955, they moved to a farm north of Audubon and returned to the Walnut area in 1981.
Helen's talents were many and her family was the recipient of her wisdom and grace. She was heavily invested in the lives of her children, but she taught them to think for themselves, always do their best, and make their own way in the world. She was a farm gal all her life and knew the value of hard work that came with that title. Her children learned their work ethic from her and from their father.
Helen made time to be involved in many family, church, and community activities: 4-H leader, Catechism teacher, church organist for over 60 years, DCCW, to name a few. She enjoyed visitors and many people were treated to a cup of coffee and a cinnamon roll - a favorite of her grandchildren. She didn't know a stranger, and her work at the Welcome Center in Walnut after Glen's passing meant meeting new people and connecting with old friends.
She remained on the farm until September of 2022, shortly before reaching her 100th birthday. Hansen House was her next home and she grew to enjoy her life there with familiar names and faces. Her declining health in November of 2023 precipitated her move to Mill Pond Health Care Center in Ankeny, Iowa, where she passed away just 25 days shy of her 102nd birthday.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Glen, son-in-law Clell Richards, and great-grandson Easton Baumann, her brothers: Clarence Kenkel and Francis Kenkel and her sister Mary Pat Sweetman, sisters-in-law: Mary Ann Kenkel, Ruby Christensen, Myrtle Juelsgaard, and Lavonne Ranaldi, brothers-in-law: Jim Anderson, Bud Rossi, Lud Buman, Walt Sweetman, Dale Juelsgaard, Elmer Christensen, and Sandy Ranaldi.
Helen is survived by her ten children: Stephen Juelsgaard and his wife Lori of Napa, Calif, Barbara Manser and her husband James of Agate, Colo., Nancy Griffith and her husband Gary of Cedaredge, Colo., Eleanor Richards of Wolfforth, TX, Mary Beaman and her husband Bill of Bedford, Ann Corley and her husband Don of Lee's Summit, Mo., Kathleen Baumann and her husband David of Lubbock, Texas, John Juelsgaard and his wife Lori of Saratoga, Calif, David Juelsgaard and his wife Jane of Ankeny, and Joan Cable of Walnut; 26 grandchildren and 38 great-grandchildren; her brothers and sisters: Mildred Anderson of Brookfield, Wis., Eileen Rossi of Wauwatosa, Wis., Robert Kenkel and his wife Bernice of Scottsdale, Arz., Alice Buman of Harlan, Donna Neppl and her husband Clarence of Salida, Colo., Nicholas Kenkel and his wife Mary Ann of Lakeville, Ind., and sister-in-law Della Kenkel of Johnston, numerous nieces and nephews; other family members and friends.
A 10:30 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, Oct. 12 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Harlan, with Fr. Seth Owusu officiating. Inurnment will be held later at the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va.
Pauley Jones Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.