Helen Simmons

Helen Simmons, 92, of Fairfield, passed away February 14, 2006 at Jefferson County Hospital.

      Family visitation will be held 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday, February 16, 2006 at Behner Funeral Home.

      Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, February 17, 2006 at Behner Funeral Home with Rev. Dave Peterson officiating. At her request, her body will be cremated and burial of the cremains will be at a later date in Forest Home Cemetery in Mt. Pleasant, IA. Online condolences may be expressed at www.behnerfh.com.

      Memorials may be made, in lieu of flowers, to the First United Methodist Church or the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

      Helen Catherine Simmons was born February 26, 1913, near Trenton, Iowa in Henry County. She was the daughter of Harry and Edith (Bates) Carper. Helen married Merle Leaser April 24, 1937. She later married John Harold Simmons in Winfield, Iowa on November 24, 1961. Mr. Simmons passed away on May 9, 1989.

      Helen was a previous resident of Henry County. She lived in Jefferson County, Iowa for 58 years. Helen was employed at the Universal and Harper Brush Works. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Fairfield. Helen was an avid gardener and loved her family very much.

      Helen is survived by her children and their families: daughter Margaret Steel and her husband Dale of Fairfield, Iowa and son Dick Leaser and his wife Lynn of Verona, Wisconsin. Helen was grandmother to Don Steele, Granddaughter-in-law Sandra Steele, Gregory Leazer, Jennifer Leazer, Elizabeth Leaser and Steve Leazer. Her great-grandchildren are Sandra Steele, Nathan Steele, Zachary Leazer and Nathaniel Leazer.

      Helen was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands, and two sisters: Beulah and Ruth and her grandson, John Steele.