Obituaries
Obituary of Ed Helgen
Ed Helgen, 87 of Litchfield, passed away Thursday, December 26, 2024. Ed’s valiant health battle in his final days and months had him surrounded unceasingly by his family. Ed was loved by all who knew him. He was often affectionately referred to as the “Mayor of Jubelt’s, McDonalds, and Dennys” where he held daily morning roundtables with his friends.
Edward William was born on November 22, 1937. He was the son of the late Otto and Hulda Helgen. Ed met his one and only true love, Sue Simpson, when he was only 13. They were married in 1956 and shared a beautiful life together until the time of her death in 2019.
They had four children, Marci (Peanut) Johnson, Nancy (Earl) Flack, Dan (JoAnn) Helgen, and Tricia (Craig) Rogers. Ed’s legacy continues with 11 grandchildren, Kyle (Angie) Johnson, Kasey (Tyler) VanderMeersch, Ryan (fiancé Brittany) Stitt, Emily Stitt, Zachary Helgen, Amanda (Alex) Hampton, Lindsay (Cody) Epley, Rachel (fiancé Blake) Helgen, Caitlan Rogers (Eric Maguire), Brianna Herschelman (Sam Taylor), and Alec (Dana Newell) Rogers; and one step granddaughter, Kelsey Flack. Great-grandchildren include, Korbin Johnson, Kyra Halleman, Ariya and Axtyn VanderMeersch, Ruby and Millie Hampton, Scarlett and Harper Epley, Ellie, Leo and Bryce Maguire, Lucy Rogers and Everett Flack. Ed is also survived by his older sister, Alice Alexander of Tacoma, Washington.
Ed dedicated his entire life to family, faith, community service and his lifelong family farm that he built alongside his father, Otto, his beloved brother, Bud (Herman), and his son, Dan. Farming was and is still to this day all that the Helgen men know. In addition to the land they prepared and farmed, they also had an enormous hog operation for many decades that at one time numbered beyond 2500 hogs, as well as a large cattle operation. In his younger years, Ed won many farming awards. The farming legacy continues with son, Dan, and the next generation of Helgen farmers.
Ed lived his life as a servant to his Lord. He was a lifelong member of Zion Lutheran Church and had served in just about every role through the years including Chairman of the congregation, Chairman of the Elders, School Board President, and Chairman of the new school building committee in the early 1970’s. He attended the school in his elementary years and prided himself on the fact that each of his children and many of his grandchildren attended and were confirmed in the Lutheran faith as well.
Ed not only lived his strong faith, but he also believed in being an involved member of the community. Ed served twenty years on the Montgomery County Board. He was on the St. Francis Board of Directors for several years. He also gave eight years of service to the Illinois National Guard where he rose in ranks. In addition, Ed was an active member in the Pork Producers, Montgomery County Farm Bureau, and worked for the State Highway Department for several winters as a Snowbird.
In his leisure time, he enjoyed watching and playing sports. This included being a forty-year member of the Litchfield Country Club playing golf. He was also on the Zion Lutheran bowling team for many years. He loved spending time with lifelong friends. He and his beloved wife, Sue, enjoyed traveling to many interesting destinations. His most treasured moments in life were those spent with his family enjoying large family gatherings and attending sporting events for his grandchildren.
Ed was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; grandson, Keck Edward Hampton; and brother, Herman (Bud) Helgen.
Services will be held at Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield on Saturday, January 4, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. Pastor Fred Kraemer will officiate. Burial will be in Elm Lawn Cemetery. The visitation will be held at the church on Friday, January 3 from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m.
The family respectfully requests in lieu of flowers, all memorials can be made to Zion Lutheran Church or Ed Helgen Ag Scholarship. Plummer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
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Robert Leeroy Blevins, 77 of Litchfield, passed away the evening of Thursday, November 20, 2025, at HSHS St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield. He was born in Litchfield on December 24, 1947, a son of Robert James and Betty Bernadine (Cranford) Blevins.
He graduated from Centralia High School and proudly served in the United States Army during the Vietnam era. He was employed for many years as a cabinet maker with Adenca Manufacturing in Litchfield. Robert enjoyed many outdoor activities including camping, fishing, hunting, mushroom hunting, and looking for buried treasures with his metal detector.
He was a talented musician and played guitar and saxophone. Robert enjoyed watching and listening to all spectator sports and was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan. He married the former Wanda Kay Large and they later divorced.
Robert is survived by sons, Christopher (fiancée Grace) Blevins and Jason (Jamie) Blevins, all of Litchfield; daughters, Jennifer (Gordon) Fenton of Salem, MO and Shannon Large of Litchfield; brothers, Chesley Blevins of Staunton, Joseph Blevins of Litchfield, Floyd Blevins of Highland, and Fred Blevins of Litchfield; sisters, Barbara (Ray) Schuster of Sorento, Sharon (John) Wickerheim of Chicago, and Pamela Poppenhouse of Litchfield; and several grandchildren and several great grandchildren.
Robert was preceded in death by his parents, Robert J. and Betty B. Blevins.
Funeral services for Mr. Blevins will be held at 12 noon on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield. Pastor Gilbert Dealey will officiate. Burial will be in Crabtree Cemetery. Military honors will be at graveside. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home.
Memorials may be directed to the family of Robert Blevins, c/o Christopher Blevins. Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield is in charge of arrangements.
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Joyce Carleen Simmons, 83 of Litchfield, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, November 23, 2025. She was born in Pana on May 31, 1942, a daughter of Carl Cornelius and Lucille Romelta (Miller) Brakenhoff.
She was a member of the Litchfield High School graduating class of 1960. She married Raymond “Larry” Simmons on June 6, 1965, at Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield, and they enjoyed nearly 55 years of marriage until his passing on January 23, 2022.
Joyce was an excellent cook and well known for her beef and noodles, Texas cake, and stew. Joyce’s delicious cooking skills were evident during her 22-year career as manager of Jubelt’s Variety Bakery in Litchfield and as a ten-year cafeteria worker for the Litchfield Community School District #12. She also enjoyed gardening, canning, tending to her fruit trees, and sewing. Joyce enjoyed serving others by teaching Sunday School at Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield and volunteering for the local Meals on Wheels.
Joyce is survived by her sons, Raymond (Vicki) Simmons of Evansville, IN and David (Jacqueline) Simmons of Haymarket, VA; daughter, Laura Simmons of Edwardsville; brothers, Leslie (Sue) Brakenhoff of Litchfield, Byron (Terry) Brakenhoff of Chattanooga, TN, and Dale (Nancy) Brakenhoff of Litchfield; sisters, Ramona Warman of Charleston, IL and Marilyn (Don) Loptien of Fort Collins, CO; grandchildren, Zachary Simmons, Makenzie (Jeremy) Frazier, Emma Simmons, and William Simmons; and great-grandchildren, Gunnar, Wyatt, Eli and Calla.
Joyce was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brothers, Rev. Larry Brakenhoff and Bernard Brakenhoff; brother-in-law Robert, “Bob” Warman; and niece, Kimberly (Brakenhoff) Bergman.
Funeral services for Joyce will be held at 12:00 noon on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield. Burial will follow in Edgewood Cemetery in Litchfield. Visitation will be at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Lutheran Hour Ministries, 660 Mason Ridge Center Road, St. Louis, MO, 63141-8557. Plummer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
