Helen J. Kaiser

MORTON – Helen Jean Kaiser, 95, of Morton, passed into the loving arms of Jesus on Friday, December 8, 2023, at Apostolic Christian Restmor in Morton.

She was born February 28, 1928, in Waukegan, Ill., to Everett and Flora (Zenor) Smith. Helen married Joe Merchenthaler of Morton in 1949. He preceded her in death in 1975. She then married Harold “Lem” Kaiser in 1976, in Morton, Ill. He preceded her in death in 2015. She was also preceded in death by her brother Robert (Jane) Smith. 

Surviving are her four step-children, Loren "Lon" (Cindy) Kaiser of Goodfield, Ill., Thomas (Lisa) Kaiser of Fort Myers, Fla., Jean (Don) Lashbrook of Uvalde, Texas, and Scott (Julie) Kaiser of Chatham, Ill.; nieces and nephews, including Barbara Laugel of Peoria, Ill., and two sisters-in-law, Katherine Kaiser and Wilma Stieglitz, both of Morton. Eleven grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren adored their Grandma, including Jeff (Mary) Kaiser of Tremont, Ill., Kim Emery of Metamora, Ill., Heather (Ryan) Gray of Normal, Ill., Joe Williamson of Bloomington, Ill., Dawn (Brian) Sharpe of Tremont, Ill., Terah (Jason) Allen of Brentwood, Tenn., Angie (Andy) Ogburn of Tremont, Ill., Weston Taylor of Groveland, Ill., Jesse (Emily) Lashbrook of Katy, Texas, and Jake and Laura Kaiser, both of Chatham, Ill.

She graduated from Morton High School and worked in the medical office of Dr. Monroe for many years and then later at First National Bank of Morton. She was devoted to friends and family, especially caring for aging loved ones with much care and compassion. Her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ was the foundation in her life.

Helen and her first husband, Joe, loved to go antiquing and collected vintage glassware and dishes and vacationed often in Hot Springs, Arkansas. After he died, she married Lem, moved to Tremont and embraced the role of mother and grandmother in the Kaiser family. She developed a close bond with the youngest, Scott, who was nine-years-old when she joined the family. She liked to say that the two of them “raised each other.”

Helen doted on the many grandchildren and great-grandchildren who provided much joy to her and Lem. She loved family get-togethers with extended family and could always be counted on to pack a delicious picnic lunch for outings to the park and holiday meals with all the trimmings. She and Lem also enjoyed taking bus trips with their friends and traveling to Florida, Hawaii and Cancun, Mexico.

Helen was interested in history and genealogy and donated many items from the Zenor family farm to the Putnam County Historical Society. She also had a gift for painting still life pictures. 

Helen was a member of the Apostolic Christian Church. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, December 13, 2023, at Knapp-Johnson Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Morton, with church ministers officiating. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial will be at Roberts Cemetery on W. Jefferson in Morton.

Memorials may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.

Knapp-Johnson Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Morton is handling arrangements.

To leave an online condolence for the family, visit www.knappjohnson.com.