Helen Hayner

Helen Charlotte Hayner, 91, was born in Titonka, Iowa in 1922 and moved to central Illinois at age 6. Due to her parents coming down with T.B., she grew up in the Cunningham Children's Home in Urbana. During high school she lived with a farm family in Danvers. She then attended Illinois Wesleyan University for her nursing degree. She worked for a year as a school nurse at Illinois State University and served in the U.S. Army as a nurse in 1944/45. Upon her release from the Army, she moved to Gurnee in 1946 and helped operate Neal Mink Ranch until 1968. She worked for the Lake County Lung Association and the Health Department for over 27 years providing T.B. testing to all Lake County students. Upon retiring she enjoyed gardening, attending St. Pat's, and was an excellent cook and loving grandma. In the fall of 2012 she moved to Winchester House and received tremendous care over the past year. Helen's family is forever grateful. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Nancy Hayner of Gurnee; her grandchildren, Katey (Don) Sroka and Daniel Hayner; sister, Ruth Bloxam of Decatur; many nieces and nephews, including those from her adopted Neal Family. She was preceded in death by her parents, Wilbur and Mabel (nee Neuman) Brunson; brothers, Gene Brunson and Daniel Brunson; sisters, Lois Brunson, Caryl Fox, Wilma Tecumseh and her best friend, Adrienne Neal. Visitation is Sunday, July 21, 2013 from 4-7pm at WARREN FUNERAL HOME, 1475 N. Cemetery Rd., Gurnee. A funeral mass will be held on Monday, July 22, 2013 at 9:30am at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 15000 Wadsworth Rd., Wadsworth, IL (meet at the church). Burial will follow at Ascension Catholic Cemetery, Libertyville. Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.