At the age of 99, Helen Margaret (Kazimour) Secrist left this earth on January 3, 2024, following a brief illness.  She was able to live independently up until two weeks before her death.  She was proud to have lived with little assistance from others and was hopeful of living to the age of 102, which was the age of her aunt when she passed.  However, God had another plan for her, to be reunited with her husband Walter of forty-two years and her son, Charles, who passed at the early age of 54 years old.

Helen was born March 30, 1924 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to parents John and Mary Kazimour.  She was the second oldest of five children. Helen attended school at Saint Wenceslaus in Cedar Rapids and graduated in 1941.  She was an avid basketball player leading her team to many victories.

After graduating, she attended trade school in Cedar Rapids.  She was employed at Green Engineering for several years, where she handled all the Spec Writings for the U.S. Army Air Force Base which is now the Eastern Iowa Airport.

She was united in marriage to Walter E. Secrist on June 28, 1952.  Helen and Walt bought their first farm in 1958 near Matsell Bridge and enjoyed farming for over 40 years.  In addition to farming, Helen and Walt were avid gardeners spending many Saturdays selling chickens and produce at the City Market in Cedar Rapids.  Helen lived on the farm until she moved to The Lodges of Ashworth in West Des Moines to be close to her children in 2017.  Helen and Walt had five children: Ronald (Cathy) Secrist, Ames, Julia (Charlie) Ungs, Ames, Christine Secrist and John Blattner, Panora, Charles Secrist (deceased), and Tom Secrist and Lynne Hansen, Denver, Colorado.

Helen enjoyed life, particularly spending time with her family.  She also spent time watching sports, the weather and going to the casino.

Helen is survived by her four children, sister Jeannie Moeller Pisarik, brother Robert F. Kazimour both of Cedar Rapids, eight grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

The Funeral Mass will be Thursday, January 11, at 11:00 A.M. at Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids by Father Christopher Podhajsky..  Burial: Hazel Knoll Cemetery, rural Central City.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Iowa Heart Association, GROW at Kazimour Farm and Orchard and Camp Courageous in Monticello.

Papich-Kuba Funeral Service, Cedar Rapids, is serving the family.