Helen Elizabeth Irwin

Helen Elizabeth Irwin was born March 25, 1922, at Springfield Memorial Hospital to the union of John Edward Nicholson and Lois Shirla Burke Nicholson. Her heavenly home was complete on February 2, 2022.

Helen’s life is best described as a wonderful adventure of ninety-nine years and 313 days. She graduated from Feitshans High School in May of 1939 and attended Illinois Business College. Her father talked the president of the school into letting him paint in exchange for Helen’s tuition. Her first bookkeeping job was with Franklin Life. She also worked for International Shoes. Helen never ventured far from Springfield except to join the war effort in 1944 as a SPAR (Semper Paratus Always Ready) in the United States Coast Guard. She did her basic training in Palm Beach, Florida and spent time in Port Angeles, Washington and Seattle, Washington where she was honorably discharged in 1946. After the war, she met Ottis Russell Irwin at a dance sponsored by the YMCA. In January 1948, this shy farm boy asked the extroverted city girl to marry. They were married on October 17, 1948, at her parent’s home in Springfield. Their St. Louis honeymoon was interrupted by the Draft Board requesting Ottis to report. Ultimately his country sent him home to farm and for the next 69 years he and the city girl, who said she never would live on a farm, humbly built a shack near Cantrall, Illinois into a home. They raised three children Diane, Mark, and Richard as well as numerous varieties of livestock and small pets. Helen was widowed in 2004 and remained on the farm until returning to Springfield in 2017.

Helen was a strong, independent, and articulate example for her children, instilling a strong faith in God, respect for the golden rule, and a love for Cardinal baseball. She taught them canasta, pinochle, and chess rarely letting them win. She loved her eight grandchildren with equal fervor teaching them how to win at Yahtzee and life in general. She never seemed to mind the noise they brought into her home and was especially enthused about the sixteen great-grandchildren that followed.

Helen’s legacy is broader than a few paragraphs but best reflected in those who remain to remember and emulate her. Children, Diane Herman (Jake), Dr. Mark Irwin (Terry), and Rev. Rick Irwin (Jane); grandchildren, Ruth Getchius (Lee), Rachel Simms (Dan), Sara Dodd (Ben), Will Irwin (Carlie), Lindsey Mitchell (Will), Corey Irwin (Shelby), Drew Irwin (Sarah), and Deidre Bradshaw (Ben); great-grandchildren, Micah, Levi, Lucy, and Stella Dodd, Nick and Natalie Irwin, Bethany, Cara, and Zachary Mitchell, Brighton and Brooks Irwin, John and Jude Irwin, and Evangeline, Rian, and Romilly Bradshaw.

Helen was a member of many churches over her lifetime. Most recently she was affiliated with services live-streamed by the First Christian Church of Girard, Illinois.

Memorial gifts may be given to the First Christian Church of Girard, 700 W. Center St., Girard, IL 62640, the Jerusalem Prayer Team, P.O. Box 30000, Phoenix, AZ 85046, or the National World War II Museum, 945 Magazine St., New Orleans, LA 70130.

Visitation will be from 9:00 until 10:45 a.m. on Tuesday, February 8, 2022, at Butler Funeral Home-Springfield, 900 S. 6th St. Springfield, IL. A Christian celebration service will follow at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Rick Irwin officiating. Interment will be at Oak Ridge Cemetery with military recognition by the InterVeterans Burial Detail. Illinois COVID-19 guidance will be followed, requiring face coverings. For those who wish to stream the ceremony, you may do so by visiting here

The family is being served by Butler Funeral Home-Springfield, 900 S 6th Street, Springfield, Illinois.