Helen Catherine Glynn

Helen Catherine Glynn, 95 years, of Council Bluffs, died January 28, 2018 at Risen Son Christian Village. In October of 2017, Helen had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer, and received wonderful, compassionate care from the staff at Risen Son and St. Croix Hospice until she passed.

Helen was born in Council Bluffs on May 22, 1922 to the late William and Mayme (Martin) Walkington. She attended Second Avenue Elementary School (now Edison Elementary) and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1940. She married high school sweetheart, Eugene “Gino” Edward Glynn on December 21, 1942.

Helen was a stenographer for Dunn and Bradstreet before she began a long career with Union Pacific. She worked in the Master Mechanic’s Office in Council Bluffs until taking time off to be a stay at home Mom. She returned to work for the UPRR in Council Bluffs but then transferred to the Omaha Shops. During the 70’s and 80’s she was in the Omaha Headquarters Building and at the time of retirement she was in the Communications Department.

Helen and her family loved camping in the 80’s and 90’s and they did their traveling in their Hi’Lo trailer. Favorite jazz festivals were on their calendar every year. In addition, she and her family also loved cruising and she and Gene had traveled on 29 different itineraries together.

She volunteered at Jennie Edmundson Hospital and was active in the Women’s Christian Association. She was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Council Bluffs where she was served on the Altar Guild, the Vestry and helped with Bible studies and the Rectory Office. She transferred to St. John’s Episcopal Church in Glenwood where she was quite active once again. Her daughter became Vicar for that church in 2010.

In her retirement years, Helen and Gene spent vacations with her daughter, and family, and always had grandson, Scott, for sleepovers. Both of them were very involved in the grandson and great grandson’s lives.

Helen lived a full, productive, Christian life and she will be deeply missed by friends and family. Helen was always “dog lover” and she will also be missed even more by miniature schnauzers Topper, Bordeaux, and Baxter. Fortunately, Helen did not suffer for an extended period of time with her cancer and she is now at peace without any more pain.

In addition to her parents, Helen was preceded in death by her husband of almost 72 years, Eugene E. Glynn, in 2014.

She is survived by her daughter, Kathryn Halverson-Rigatuso; grandson, Scott Halverson (Mindy); great-grandsons, Jaden and Jasper Halverson.

A Celebration of Life will be held Thursday, 11 a.m., at the Hoy-Kilnoski Funeral Home with visitation the hour before. Private interment will be in the Cedar Lawn Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the St. John’s Episcopal Church in Glenwood.