Methodist-born, Methodist-bred, Helen R. Ahlemeyer was a devoted follower of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She strived to embody and live out the words of Jesus to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind and to love your neighbor as yourself.”
All of Helen’s relationships and important life choices flowed out of these two commands. This led her to attend and graduate Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky in 1961 with a degree in teaching, followed later with a Master’s degree in Social Studies from Indiana University.
Helen served in Bolivia as a short-term missionary before dedicating her life to teaching English in the Bartholomew County school system for over 31 years. Her love of literature and helping students consider and discover the importance of relationships in family and friendships shone through her years of teaching and modeling life. After retirement, she continued serving with the Bartholomew County Retired Teacher Association (BARTA) and even served two terms as president from 1999-2003.
Although Helen loved teaching as a profession, her true vocation was being a faithful friend of God and others. Helen could be described as a collector of lifelong friends, many of whom became family. Helen’s journey of loving her neighbor as herself included welcoming foster children into her life. She would eventually adopt Tim after meeting and marrying the love of her life, Bill Ahlemeyer.
Bill and Helen truly became one, sharing their love of God and others by serving faithfully at Sandy Hook United Methodist Church in various roles, such as singing in choir, raising mission funds with the Annual Country Fair, teaching Sunday School and Discipleship Bible Study, and serving on various committees (often as chairpersons). Helen’s personal cherished friendships began in 1992 at Sandy Hook UMC. This group of women, who called themselves The Magnificent Seven (Mag 7), walked with each other through the challenges of life and death over the decades. Five currently are surviving and carry on the legacy.
Bill and Helen also shared a love of barbershop and singing in community music groups, growing flowers in their yard, attending theater and the Columbus Symphony, as well as traveling to all 50 states and other countries.
Their blended family was loved beyond what words could express, and with each addition they rejoiced. This family includes four surviving children: William Bruce (Cindy) Ahlemeyer of Indianapolis, David Odell Ahlemeyer of Tucson, Arizona, Susan Lee (Carl) Ortega of Lansing, Illinois, and Timothy Allen (Joy) Ahlemeyer of LaPorte, Indiana. There are 10 grandchildren: Aaron (Lara) Ahlemeyer, Wendy (Brian) Thayer, Bradley (Annette) Ahlemeyer, Megan Ahlemeyer, Jamie (Steve) Feldman, Adam (Amanda) Ortega, Tom (Amanda) Ortega, Matthew (Alyson) Ortega, Clayton (Emily) Ahlemeyer, Echo (Matt) Ira; and 16 great-grandchildren: Steven Ahlemeyer, Wesley Thayer, Edward Ahlemeyer, Jordan Ahlemeyer, David Ahlemeyer, Zoey Feldman, Andrew Ortega, Connor Marsh, Logan Marsh, Amelia Ortega, Evan Ortega, Nolan Ortega, Evelyn Joy Ahlemeyer, William Everett Ahlemeyer, Katelyn Beth Ahlemeyer, and Benjamin Zachary Ahlemeyer. They have 1 beloved niece: Linda (Dan) Mustard of Columbus, Indiana.
Helen was preceded in death by her loving husband, William (Bill) F. Ahlemeyer and her daughter-in-law, Peggy Ahlemeyer.
Her beloved pastor and friend, Rev. Paul Dazet of Sandy Hook United Methodist Church, will preside over the funeral service which will occur Saturday, February 1, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Sandy Hook United Methodist Church, 1610 Taylor Road, Columbus, Indiana 47203. Friends may visit one hour prior to funeral. Burial will follow at Garland Brook Cemetery.
A Friday evening visitation will also be held for Helen on Friday, January 31st, 2025 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Myers-Reed Chapel, 3729 25th Street, Columbus, Indiana 47203.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that memorial contributions be made to Sandy Hook United Methodist Church.
Please leave a fond memory of Helen at www.Myers-Reed.com.
