Helen Sloan

Helen Statz Sloan was born on the family farm in Nuckolls County, Nelson, Nebraska to William and Hazel Adamson Statz July 12th 1931. She was the sixth of seven children. When Helen was 7 years old, on 07/26/1938, the world was turned upside down for her family as her father was killed by lightening leaving her mother with 6 children, the oldest 18 and the youngest 1 year. Here she learned about faith, as Philippians 4:17 says “You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.” Her mother gathered her children together and made a life for them on the farm, each having a job to do. Helen’s jobs were to keep 4 baskets of cobs and kindling full on the back porch for cooking on the kitchen range, along with feeding the chickens, and gathering eggs. This was the beginning of learning what faith was all about as she accepted Jesus as her Lord and savior at the age of 13 and was baptized at the Nelson Christian Church, where the the family attended faithfully. During her high school years, her delight was going to summer church camp and youth meetings which she carried on throughout her adult life. After graduating high school in 1948, she worked in a local office before going to Midwestern School of Evangelism in Ottumwa, Iowa. Later she worked at J.C. Penny where she met Irvin Sloan. Helen and Irvin were married at the Nelson Christian Church February 20, 1955 and then came back to Eldon and later rural Bloomfield, Iowa be a farm wife and to “feed her flock of chickens and gather the eggs.” To the union three children were born: Donna, Robert, and Karen. Irvin and Helen saw that all three got to attend church camp and she attended all their events possible. Besides the mothering duties, Helen was a chore girl on the farm which included tending to 400 hens and driving an International corn picker to pick the corn. Following her breast cancer surgery, in 1977, she became a Reach to Recovery volunteer to help others realize they were still beautiful. She also was a 4-H leader, cooked football meals, an active member of Eldon Christian Church, and I-MO Christian Church Camp cook where many knew her as “grandma.” Throughout her life, she was an avid seamstress and quilter, making both of her daughters’ wedding dresses. After Irvin passed in 1994, she quilted with the Bethlehem Ladies Aid for many years. And Helen always made time for her faith and her family. Helen was preceded in passing by her parents, husband, daughter and son in law Donna and Dick Strait, 2 sisters, and 3 brothers. Left to remember her life are her daughter Karen (Jeff) Kincart, son Robert, sister Elizabeth Woodside, 9 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. And yes, if God so sees fit, Helen will have a flock of chickens to feed and eggs to gather. Helen left this life Friday, March 31st 2023 at the Bloomfield Care Center with family at her side. Visitation will be open after 12 p.m. Thursday, April 6th 2023 at the Wagler Funeral Home with family present to greet friends from 5-7 p.m. Funeral services are to be held at Eldon Christian Church on Friday, April 7th at 11 a.m. with Brothers Dave Bowden and Larry Smith officiating. Interment to follow at the Eldon Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Eldon Christian Church, I-MO Christian Service Camp, and American Legion Avenue of Flags.

Helen Sloan

July 12, 1931 - March 31, 2023