Helen M. Canham of Bloomington, Illinois, formerly of Kewanee, Illinois, passed away peacefully at home on September 29, 2018. She was born on October 26, 1917 in Milton, Iowa to Charles Schlieben and Anna (Siedschlag) Schlieben. Helen was predeceased by her mother, who died in child birth in 1922, and later by her father who died of pneumonia in 1925. At that time, she and her two brothers, Julius and Clarence, were placed in the care of the Children's Home in Cairo, Illinois. In 1929, Helen was adopted by William Breed Murray and Emma Randall Murray of Peoria, Illinois. She attended Franklin School and Peoria High School, where she was a member of the volleyball team and an outstanding tennis player. Helen continued her education at Bradley University, where she obtained degrees in both Home Economics and English and was a member of the Delta Kappa Sorority. After graduation from Bradley University, she worked in the Research Library at the Caterpillar Company and later enrolled at the University of Illinois, where she studied Library Science. While there, Helen met and later married Morris H., "Jim", Canham on May 11, 1946. She and her husband first resided in Racine, Wisconsin and then moved to Kewanee, Illinois, where she was a homemaker, a substitute teacher and a Realtor, along side her husband. Helen was also a member of Eastern Star, Moline Consistory Scottish Rite, Fortnightly Reading Club, President of the Congregational Church Women's Fellowship and Sunday School teacher. She was active in Boy Scouts, a Girl Scout Leader and tutored many students over the years, having founded the Tutoring Center at her church. Helen was an accomplished seamstress, an outstanding bridge player, an avid reader, and enjoyed playing many games. In 1998, she and her husband moved to Bloomington, Illinois where they became members of the First Presbyterian Church and where she attended several Bible Study groups, taught by then Pastor Jim Bell, and was a member of the YAH (Young At Heart) Group. Helen also attended the Bible Study Fellowship at Eastview Christian Church and The First Church Christ, Scientist.
Helen was preceded in death by her husband, mother-in-law and father-in law, six brothers, two sisters, birth parents and adopted parents, two sisters-in-law, two brothers-in-law and one nephew.
She is survived by three daughters and one son: Pamela Roberts (Christopher) of Harwich, MA., Linda Canham of Melbourne, FL, Jim Canham (Christina) of Chicago, IL, Elizabeth Johnson of Bloomington, IL; four grandchildren: Kylene Barnett (Derek), Karen Canham, Jacob Smith (Sammi Jo) and Brandon Johnson; two great grandchildren: Skylar and Rhett; three nephews: Mike Canham, Al Foster and Steve Foster; and her dear friend for many years, John Crew.
The family is extremely thankful for the loving care provided to Helen by daughter, Elizabeth Johnson and her team of care-givers: Debbie Williams, Jackie Nichols, Mary Cope and Debbie Phipps.
Services will be held at East Lawn Funeral Home, Bloomington, IL on October 3, 2018 at 10:00 a.m., with graveside services following at the Wataga Cemetery, Wataga, IL.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to OSF-Home Care, 211 Landmark Drive, #D3, Normal, IL 61761 or First Presbyterian Church, 2000 College Avenue, Normal, IL 61761.
