Helen Mae Jeanes, age 79, was born June 21, 1940, at Iowa City, Iowa to Ray Charles and Virginia May (Green) Waddell. She died at Lamoni Specialty Care in Lamoni, Iowa on Tuesday, January 7, 2020.
Helen went to school in Grand River and Beaconsfield, Iowa through her junior year. She played basketball for the Beaconsfield High School. She was always proud that she was part of the team that played at the State Tournament in 1956. She graduated from Lamoni High School in 1958.
She married her husband, Gary Jeanes, on February 8, 1959. The happiest time of her life was having her children, Doug and Denise, at home. Helen loved being on the farm with her family where they raised beef cattle. Her greatest joy was driving a John Deere tractor, feeding bottle calves, and attending fairs to watch her grandchildren. Her favorite pet was a blue healer because he was a good watchdog. The biggest influences in Helen’s life came from her husband, Gary, and good friend, Beth.
Preceding her in death were her parents, Ray and Virginia Waddell; in-laws, Robert and Doris Jeanes; brothers-in-law, Donald Sams, Gill LaFaille, Merlin Matteson, David Smith, and Jack Jeanes; sister-in-law and best friend, Beth Waddell; nephew, Paul LaFaille; and niece, Brenda Cason. Survivors include her husband, Gary Jeanes; son, Doug & Laura Jeanes; daughter, Denise & Chuck Jennings; grandchildren, Bill Jennings, Tyler & Hanna Jeanes, and Tiffany & Drew Magstadt; great grandchild, Kambri Jeanes; sisters, Wanda Sams and Laverna LaFaille; brothers, Don Waddell and Charles and Judy Waddell; brother-in-law, Casey and Maurita Jeanes; sisters-in-law, Donna Smith and Ann Matteson; and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held at the Slade – O’Donnell Funeral Home in Leon, Iowa at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 11, 2020, with Elders Donn and Peggy Henson officiating. Burial will be in the Rose Hill Cemetery, Lamoni, Iowa.