Helen J. Willard was born on July 14, 1926, in Hebron, Nebraska to George and Marie (Ross) Neemann and passed away on July 27, 2023, in Lincoln, Nebraska at the age of 97 years and 13 days. Helen was baptized on August 22, 1926, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Gilead, Nebraska by Reverend Bangert.

Helen attended grade school and high school in Hebron, Nebraska and graduated in May of 1944. She was united in marriage to Richard T. Willard on June 19, 1944, and to this union two children were born, Joan and Gary. The couple lived in the Seward and Milford areas.

Helen was employed at Union Insurance in Lincoln and Southeast Community College in Milford as an Assistant Registrar. She ran a ceramic business and taught classes in her home in Milford for several years. In 1977, she was united in marriage to Vern Willard. The couple purchased a motel in Florence, Kansas and sold it after four years to retire to Newton, Kansas. Helen was a member of the Seward Junior Women's Club and Milford American Legion Women's Auxiliary.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Willard and second husband, Vern Willard; daughter, Joan Storey and parents, George and Marie Neemann.

She is survived by her son, Gary Willard; son-in-law, Ray Storey; granddaughters, Melissa Smith (John Connell), Jen (Zak) King, Nicole (Dillon) Jasper; great-grandchildren, Austin Adams, Kylee Adams and Lilee Smith, Harley Davison, Alexis Davison, Brooklyn Davison and Gage Davison, Carter Jasper and Jaxon Jasper; cousins and a host of friends. To this obituary we add our thoughts, prayers and memories of a life shared with Helen.