Helen Jovina Garry

Helen Jovina (Kollasch) Garry was born June 18, 1927 in Swea City, Iowa to Elmer and Mary (Matheis) Kollasch. She grew up in Swea City, where she attended and graduated from high school. As a young girl, Helen enjoyed all types of music, and she played the French horn in her high school band. She loved dancing and roller skating, and excelled in her math and reading. Helen married Thomas William Garry at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ledyard, Iowa, and to this union, four children were born; Bill, Sandy, Cindi, and Tom. Helen has made her home in Storm Lake, Iowa, and Grand Island, Nebraska and has spent the last several years in Elkhorn, Nebraska. Helen worked for a time at Mountain States Telephone Company, and then spent several years working for Holiday Inn as a Food and Beverage Manager. She also owned thoroughbred race horses, and greatly enjoyed time spent at the races. She was a voracious reader, and enjoyed baking, gardening, and having lunch with friends. Most of all, she loved raising her four children, and all the time spent with them and her grandchildren and great grandchildren, whom she loved dearly. Helen could often be found watching old family videos, enjoying a glass of chardonnay, or cheering on the Huskers. She loved classical music, and the song, “The Rose”, and could be heard instructing, “neatness counts, kids”, or reminding someone, “you can tell a German, but you can’t tell them much”. Her favorite was a meal at Boyd & Charlie’s, or a dish of ice cream, but she was frustrated by cashiers who couldn’t count change back properly. Helen was a hard-working, quick-witted, responsible, loving woman, who was kind to all she met. She will be remembered for her independence, and for being a fun-loving, caring lady with a strong faith in God and love for her family. Helen died on Saturday, April 2, 2016 at her daughter, Cindi’s house in Elkhorn, Nebraska at the age of 88 years, 9 months, and 14 days. She was preceded in death by her oldest son William Garry, her father Elmer Kollasch and mother Mary Kollasch. Helen is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law Sandy and David Humphrey, of Aurora, CO, and Cindi and Bill Marston, of Elkhorn, NE, son and daughter-in-law Tom and Cindy Garry, of Elkhorn, NE. Grandchildren Jenna, Tom and Luke Marston, Joe, Erin, Billy and Michael Garry, Josh, Derik and Jessica Abraham and Andrea and Wyatt Simpson. Great grandchildren, Addison and Pacer Simpson, who all loved her dearly. GARRY - Helen J., age 88, Elkhorn, passed away peacefully on April 2, 2016 at her home. Preceded in death by her son William Garry, father Elmer Kollasch and mother Mary Kollasch. Survived by her daughters and sons-in-law Sandy and David Humphrey, Aurora, Co, and Cindi and Bill Marston, Elkhorn, son and daughter-in-law Tom and Cindy Garry, Elkhorn. Grandchildren Jenna, Tom and Luke Marston, Joe, Erin, Billy and Michael Garry, Josh, Derik and Jessica Abraham and Andrea and Wyatt Simpson. Great grandchildren, Addison and Pacer Simpson, who all loved her dearly. Visitation Wednesday, April 6, 2016 at Reichmuth Funeral Home from 4 to 7 PM with a Wake service at 7 PM. Funeral Mass on Thursday, April 7, 2016 at 10:30 AM at St. John's Catholic Church in Valley, Nebraska. Inurnment at Prospect Hill Cemetery, Elkhorn. Memorials to St Jude's Childrens Hospital.

Helen Jovina Garry

June 18, 1927 - April 2, 2016