Helen A. Ewald

Neoga, IL – Helen A. Ewald, age 101, of Neoga, IL, formerly of Green Bay, WI, passed away at 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, February 23, 2016, at Douglas Rehabilitation and Health Care, Mattoon, IL. A memorial service celebrating her life will begin at 1:00 p.m., Friday, March 4, 2016, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 200 Charleston Avenue, Mattoon, IL 61938. All are welcome to attend. Reverend Troy Countryman will officiate. Her final earthly resting place will be in Florida next to her husband. Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home, located at 1200 Wabash Avenue, Mattoon, IL 61938 is assisting the family. Born in Akron, MI, on August 26, 1914, Helen was the daughter of Frank and Ethel (Moore) Mathews. She married Urban R. “U.R.” Ewald on July 30, 1938, in Unionville, MI. He preceded her in death on October 26, 1986. Survivors include her children: Vida Bruss of Green Bay, WI; Elwyn Ewald and wife Alice of Napa, CA, David Ewald and wife Rhonda of Milwaukee, WI, Gene Ewald and wife Charlotte of Hickory, NC, Mark Ewald and wife Carol of Neoga, IL, Larry Ewald and wife Debbie of Oak Grove, MO; and daughter-in-law, Phyllis Ewald of St. Louis, MO; her loving grandchildren, Lisa and Jeff Truttmann of Denmark, WI, Lana and Eric Bjorkland of Slinger, WI, Todd and Julie Bruss of Green Bay, WI, Tom and Lana Bruss of Greenville, WI, Luanne and John Murray of Slinger, WI, Craig and Laura Ewald of St. Louis, MO, Pamela and John Messmer of St. Louis, MO, Brett and Trish Ewald of Kansas City, MO, Kurt and Tracy Ewald of Athens, GA, Leah Ewald of Washington, DC; Kerri and Brian Fox of San Carlos, CA, Chad and Pamela Ewald of Appleton, WI, Danielle and Patrick Finn of Milwaukee, WI, Seth Ewald of Hickory, NC, Sean and Denise Ewald of Reading, MA, Brian and Kim Ewald of Tallahassee, FL, Krista Parker of Deerfield Beach, FL, Lynn and Brian Andrews of Murfreesboro, TN, Lorel and Matthew Brown of Overland Park, KS, Joy and Will Bihun of Huntley, IL, Matthew and Jocelyn Ewald of Blue Springs, MO, Aaron Ewald of Blue Springs, MO, and at last count - 48 great grandchildren. To use Helen’s own words – her family is a very prolific group. Helen is the end of a generation. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by all of his siblings and their spouses, as well as her own siblings and their spouses. She was also preceded in death by a beloved son-in-law, Harold Bruss, and an infant son. Being the wife of a Lutheran School teacher and principal, Helen’s married life was dedicated to her family and the churches they served together. She was also a working mother to help support and raise all of her children. They lived in such exciting places as St. Peters, IL, Centralia, IL, Pocahontas, MO, St. Louis, MO, Ashland, KY, and Troy, IL, before retirement. During retirement, Helen lived in Florida, Wisconsin, and finally, IL. Memorial contributions in her honor may be made to the St. John’s Lutheran Church and School, Mattoon, IL. Please visit www.mitchell-jerdan.com or www.facebook.com/mitchelljerdanfuneralhome to light a virtual candle in her honor or share a memory with her family.

Tributes

Helen A. Ewald

August 26, 1914 - February 23, 2016