Juanita Vivian Helms

Obituary of Juanita Vivian Helms Juanita Vivian Helms passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 55 years, Ted Helms, who passed away ten years earlier, as well as her son, Brian Monroe Helms, and many cherished family members who had gone on before her. Juanita looked forward with faith and hope to being reunited with them in heaven. Juanita was born in Willow Springs, Missouri, to James and Pearl (Elmore) Bradford. She was the youngest of seven children. She was preceded in death by her siblings Nova Bradford, Charles Bradford, Roy Bradford, Raymond Bradford, and Fern Reynolds. She is survived by her sister, Thelma Reynolds of Waterloo, Iowa. Juanita loved her family fiercely and devoted her life to them. She is survived by her children Retta Sundblad (Richard), Brad Warneka (Marta), and Wanda Hersey (Samuel). Her youngest son, Brian Helms, preceded her in death. She is also survived by her grandchildren Justin Helms (Bonnie), Charity Childress (Joel), Rachael Lindstedt (Joseph), Michael Sundblad (Lori), Theodore Warneka, and David Hersey (Monty). Juanita was further blessed with eleven great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren, all of whom were deeply shaped by her love. Beyond her devotion to family, Juanita found joy in the simple pleasures of life. She enjoyed gardening, home improvement projects, reading, and travel. She had a deep love for gospel music, and the Gaither Channel was often playing in her home. Together, Juanita and Ted traveled to all 48 continental states, creating lifelong memories along the way. Though she never learned to swim, she happily joined her children on boat rides, savoring every moment together. An enthusiastic camper, Juanita carefully planned family camping trips, including a beloved tradition of picking Ted up after his second-shift job and driving through the night from Iowa to Colorado so their adventures could begin first thing in the morning. Her determination shone through later in life when, after her oldest child entered high school, she returned to school and proudly earned her GED. Juanita was also known for her love of cooking. The warmth of her home was often filled with the smell of homemade cookies when the children returned from school. Her cookies were so beloved that Ted had to hide his lunchbox from coworkers to keep them from disappearing. These simple, loving moments defined the heart of who Juanita was. Juanita Vivian Helms will be remembered for her unwavering love, strong faith, adventurous spirit, and the warmth she brought to her family and home. Her legacy lives on in the lives of those she loved so deeply.

Juanita Vivian Helms

July 3, 1934 - April 1, 2026