Helen Joann Byerley's Obituary
Helen Joann Byerley was born in Ava, Illinois on June 16, 1933 to parents James and Addie (Pulcher) Wayland. She entered eternal life in Heaven on her birthday, June 16, 2024. While attending high school in Dupo, Illinois she met her husband-to-be Walter Eugene Byerley Sr. They married on August 12, 1951 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Columbia, Illinois. Walter enlisted in the US Air Force in 1951 and became a career military officer, and Joann, a career military wife. They moved around the world with a growing family that included four children.
Following the military career, Walter became a Lutheran minister and Joann actively supported him in the church, volunteered at the local food bank, and for 45 years made quilts for World Relief. Her passion was quilting, and she made hundreds of quilts for donation to those in need.
Joann was preceded in death by her husband Walter Byerley Sr., parents James and Addie Wayland, brother Billie Wayland, and sister, Betty "Bette" Russell.
She is survived by her four children, daughter Barbara (Danny) Heinlein, and sons Walter "Butch and Kathy (Munton) Byerley of Columbia, Illinois, Darryl and Rebecca (Blumhorst) Byerley of Alaska, and Mark and Lisa (Zawisza) Byerley of Indiana, eight grandchildren; Chandra Heinlein, Jeremy and Jenna (Huch) Heinlein, Amy (Bob) Kaempfe, Jason and Terrie (Herring) Byerley, Ryan Byerley, Garrett and Sarah (Rife) Byerley, Erica Byerley and Delania Byerley, and six great grandchildren, Alex and Kasey (Ungerer) Kaempfe, Ellen Kaempfe, Makayla Byerley, Lucas Byerley and Macy and Addison Heinlein. She is also survived by brothers Jack and Carol (Schmidt) Wayland, Ron and Ruth (Van Hoosier) Wayland, Don and Linda (Wolfe) Wayland, and sister Iva Jean Mesnarich and a sister-in-law Johanna (Krick) Wayland, along with other relatives and friends.
Visitation will be held on Friday, June 21, 2024, 9:00 am - 11:00 am, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Columbia, IL,. with services beginning at 11:00 a.m.with Pastor Stephen Krenz, officiating. Interment will be held at 10:15 a.m. on Tuesday, June 25 at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, MO. Those wishing to attend the service at the cemetery on Tuesday, are asked to meet on the funeral home parking lot at 9:30 a.m.
In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions be directed to: St. Paul Lutheran Church 227 Goodhaven, Columbia, IL 62236 .
Leesman Funeral Home, Columbia, IL, handled arrangements.
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