HELEN MAXWELL 1925 - 2007

MAXWELL ARRASMITH TRAVIS MORRISON

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/15/2014 at 11:08:01

Onawa Democrat
2 May 2007

HELEN MAXWELL, nee Arrasmith-Travis Morrison, died at home on Monday, April 16th, 2007. Her father, Rev. Travis, served the Methodist Church in Onawa during the 1940's. Born 1925 in Farnhamville, Iowa, she graduated from Onawa, Iowa, high school ha 1943 and from Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa in 1947. In 1946, she married James Morrison of Mapleton, Iowa.

Following their divorce, she remarried to Charles Maxwell of Sioux City, Iowa, in 1954.

Blondie, as Helen was known in Onawa, was active in High School Band and played piano in a popular dance band. She made many life long friends and joined reunions in Onawa and invited classmates to her homes in Illinois and Sanibel, Florida, as well as visiting classmates on the Texas coast until recently.

Helen lived in the Fox River communities in Illinois, most recently in Elgin, for over 50 years. She taught elementary school for several years, and worked for 20 years in the printing industry at Graftek Press, in employee relations and benefits, before her retirement.

A single parent since the death of Charles Maxwell in 1963, Helen raised three daughters: Dr. Sarz Maxwell of Chicago, Loni (Steve) Kampschroer of St. Charles, and Marty (John) Gylleck of Ingleside; Illinois. She was equally proud of her six grandchildren: Lauren, Kristin, and K.J. Kampschroer, and Tamsen, Kezia, and Broeden Gylleck.

Helen was for many years a member of St. James Episcopal Church in Dundee. More recently, for over ten years, she was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Elgin, where she was active in many ways. She was also a volunteer at "Shop and Share", the resale shop benefiting Ecker Center for Mental Health.

Helen could find humor in almost any situation, and greatly valued her independence.

‘"To see the world in a grain of sand, and heaven in a wild-flower, to hold infinity in the palm of your hand, and eternity in an hour." Wm. Blake.

Memorials can be made to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Elgin or Heifer International.