Helen Margaret Casady

Helen Margaret Kendall Casady was born April 27, 1913 on the family farm in Sewall, Iowa to Irvin Edwin and Margaret Elizabeth Kendall.  She died at the age of 102 years Saturday, November 7, 2015 at Spring Valley Care Center in Spring Valley, Minnesota, where her care had been lovingly provided for eighteen years.

Helen was raised in Southern Iowa near Corydon, graduated High School at the age of 16, and in the depths of the Great Depression was blessed by the Methodist Church with a loan which helped her to attend and graduate from Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa.  She triple majored in English, Latin and Home Economics, became a High School Teacher and Principal for the following three years, concluding her career in Grimes, Iowa,  where she met Kenneth William Casady.  They married at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa on June 3, 1939 and lived in Grimes for the next 45 years, where Helen was a homemaker and equal partner in Kenneth’s trucking business and farming investments, providing wise counsel and careful financial management.

She and Kenneth were struck by tragedy when in 1957 their oldest son William Kendall Casady, born in 1941, was killed in a highway accident.  This was followed eight years later by the loss of their second son, John Michael Casady, born in 1943, who died in another highway accident in 1965.  Any family might have been torn asunder by such dual tragedy, but in testimony to their great strength and commitment to remaining family Helen and Kenneth redoubled their  loyalty to one another.  They provided good lives and futures for two remaining children, Abigail Margaret, born 1951, and James Monroe, born 1953.  The foundation for this great love was found in the Presbyterian Church in Grimes, Iowa, where they both remained members for the rest of their lives.

Helen and Kenneth moved to Spring Valley, Minnesota in 1991 to be near son Jim and his family, and found a new Church home at Faith United Methodist Church.  In 1998 they became residents at the Care Center, where Kenneth died shortly after their arrival.  Helen was known for her kindness, love and encouragement to all and was sought out by many who considered her far more than a friend.  She received many visitors and enjoyed especially close relationships with granddaughter Lauryn Casady, niece Sandra Kinrade and nephew Terry McKissick .  

Helen’s favorite scripture and guiding principle in life was Micah 6:8:

“He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”

Helen’s great strength until her final day of life remained a source of inspiration to all those around her. She is survived by two children, daughter Abigail (Jim) Casady Smas of Kent, OH, son James (Kathy) Casady of Grand Meadow, MN; five grandchildren, Ryan Smas, Libby Smas Thompson, Jenny Smas, Lauryn Casady and Ethan Casady, and three great grandchildren, beloved niece Sandra and nephew Larry Kendall.   She will be sadly missed by all who loved her, but will remain by our sides forever.   

Visitation will be held Sunday, November 15, 2015 from 4 – 6 P.M.  at the Hindt Funeral Home in Spring Valley, followed by a service at Faith United Methodist Church Monday, November 16 , 2015 at 11:00 A.M. and then will be taken to Grimes, Iowa for burial beside her husband and two sons.  Graveside services held 11:00 A.M. in Grimes Tuesday, November 17, 2015 followed by a time of fellowship at the Presbyterian Church in Grimes.  

  Condolences may be left at www.Hindtfuneralhomes.com

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