Helen Leyden

A celebration of life for Helen Leyden, 97, of Washington, will be held Saturday, July 30, 2011 at 11:00AM at the Beatty Funeral Home in Washington. Rick Bremel will officiate. The family will greet friends from 10:00AM until service time. A memorial fund has been established for the Washington Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Helen Leyden died Friday, July 22, 2011 at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City following a brief illness.
Olive Helen (Kimmel) Leyden was born March 4, 1914 in Birmingham, IA, the daughter of John and Louisa (Miner) Kimmel. She was educated in the Keosauqua and Washington school systems. On April 21, 1931 she was united in marriage to Ernest J. Leyden in Fairfield, IA. She was a homemaker and mother and enjoyed reading, flower gardening and was a talented musician. Helen was a member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Washington.
Survivors include ten children and spouses, Jean and John Sliekers of Waterloo, IA, Treva Kilgore of Washington, IA, Phil and Sally Leyden of Washington, IA, Ina Rae and Edward Gappa of Ormand Beach, FL, Kim and Joan Leyden of Washington, IA, Jim and Donna Leyden of Riverside, IA, Roger and Linda Leyden of Washington, IA, Mike and Jane Leyden of Washington, IA, Katie and Keith Sulzner of Iowa City, IA, and Eric Leyden of Washington, IA. 47 grandchildren, 106 great grandchildren, 66 great great grandchildren and 2 great great great grandchildren.
Preceding Helen in death were her parents, her husband Ernest, two daughters, Mary Davison and Cherie Sapp, and four brothers and five sisters.