Coon, Helen Neufeld (1934-2006)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2006 Jun 26 p. 7

Birth date: 1934 Apr 2

HELEN NEUFELD COON

Helen Catherine Coon, 72, of Topeka, Ind., died May 30, 2006, of liver failure. She was born April 2, 1934, to John T. and Catherine Neufeld in Chicago.

She grew up in Chicago. Upon confession of Christian faith, she was baptized at Chicago Mennonite Bible Mission in 1945. She attended North Park University in Chicago and Bluffton (Ohio) College, where she received her bachelor’s degree in May 1956.

On June 24, 1956, she married Robert R. Coon at Grace Mennonite Church in Chicago. During her last days, friends and family celebrated her and Robert’s 50th wedding anniversary in their home.

She lovingly and diligently served with her husband throughout his 40 years of pastoral ministry in five states and nine churches. She was active in church, teaching Sunday school, singing in the choir and helping with vacation Bible school.

They served as hosts of Menno-Hof Visitors Center in Shipshewana, Ind., 1993-94. For many years, they performed “Faith of Our Fathers and Mothers,” sharing Anabaptist history in story and song. In recent years both were active in Topeka (Ind.) Mennonite Church. She also enjoyed several winters at Traveler’s Rest Resort near Dade City, Fla., where Robert served as chaplain. She worked as a teacher, reading instructor, church secretary and bank teller. In 2000 she retired from Wells Fargo Bank of Topeka.

She loved to write and had poetry published in various church publications. She was an adviser for the Foundation Series Sunday school curriculum series. Her book, House at the Back of the Lot, was based on her childhood in Chicago. She recently published Oskar and Sarah: A Congo Love Story about her great-aunt and uncle in the mission field. Her warm and open personality earned her friends wherever she lived or traveled.

Survivors include her husband, Robert, of Topeka, Ind.; three children, Russell Coon and his wife, Kathryn, of Goshen, Catherine Bitikofer and her husband, Mervin, of St. George, Kan., and Dorothy Coon of Avilla; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a sister, Esther Kressley.