Helen Johnston

Helen Johnston

 

 

Helen S. Johnston, 93, of Dubuque, passed away on Tuesday, August 9, 2016, at Manor Care Health Services under the care of hospice. She departed her life just as she had lived it: in full control and filled with joy in the presence of her family and her friends during her final days.

Memorial services were held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, Aug. 19, 2016 at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church. Friends called from 9:30-10:45 a.m., Friday at the Church.

Helen was born July 1, 1923, in Ottumwa, Iowa, the oldest child and only daughter of a carpenter and a church secretary, G. Vernon and Pearl (Blackford) Capell.

   She earned a BA in piano performance from Simpson College and a master’s from Clarke College.

Helen taught business education at North Fayette Community High School in West Union, Iowa, and after the family moved to Dubuque, taught elementary school at Prescott, Irving, and Marshall, and was a reading specialist in the Dubuque Public Schools System.

   Helen’s life was grounded in a passion for music. She and lifelong piano/organist partner, Ruth Jones, performed countless programs at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, where Helen was a member for more than 50 years. They expanded to "Forty Flying Fingers" when they added pianists Nancy Woodin and Karen Lull to the program.

Helen accompanied the choir at St. Luke’s and played there most recently on July 3, two days after she turned 93. She was an originator of the "Fabulous Fridays" music programs at St. Luke’s and organized a series of programs called "Where Art and Music Meet." She had also been a member of the JuBELLation Ringers at St. Luke’s.

In addition to performing at church, Helen and Ruth played for many years at the Finley Hospital Auxiliary’s annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony and at Loras College and the University of Dubuque. Helen also accompanied many musicians in the Artist Series of the Dubuque Arts Council, was the music director of the Barn Community Theater and the Grand Opera House, and was one of the originators of the Dubuque Arboretum’s  Sunday afternoon concerts.

   In addition to her music, Helen was also an ardent supporter of service projects. She organized the "Seniors Out and About" monthly travel group, served as president of the Dubuque Arts Council, and held every office in PEO Chapter KI. She was a delegate to the Dubuque Area Congregations United and a lay member of the United Methodist Annual Conference.

She was a member of two bridge clubs at the time of her passing, was a voracious reader, and loved to attend concerts and plays.

   On the family front, Helen and her husband Bruce (2002) lost an infant son, Robert John, and raised three children, Bill (Debbie) of St. Paul, MN, Jean (late husband Denny) of Glen Ellyn, IL, and Ed (Christine, and late wife Sally) of Cable, WI. Helen doted on her four grandsons, Kevin (Samantha), Tim (Sarah), Zachary, and Daniel, and her two great grandchildren, Fiona (6) and Lochlan (1). She leaves behind many nieces and nephews who will greatly miss their Aunt Helen.

   Helen will live on in the hearts of her family and in her music legacy to St. Luke’s and to Dubuque.

She requested that her ashes be scattered with Bruce’s at the family’s 150-year-old farm near Hopkinton, Iowa.

   Memorials may be made to the Helen Johnston Memorial Fund at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 1199 Main Street, Dubuque, IA 52001.

   The Egelhof, Siegert & Casper Westview Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

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