Helen Evans, 91, of Clarkson, Nebraska, died Wednesday, March 15, 2017, at the Clarkson Care and Rehabilitation Center, LLC., surrounded by her family.

Mass of Christian Burial will be on Thursday, March 23, 2017, at 10:30 AM at SS Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church in Clarkson with Fr. Rod Kneifl celebrating the Mass. She was a member of SS Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church. Interment will be in Clarkson Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 4:00 to 6:00 PM with a 6:00 PM Rosary at the church. Visitation will continue on Thursday from 9:30 AM until service time at the church. Memorials are those of donor's choice.

The church choir will be singing. Song selections are, "On Eagles Wings," "How Great Thou Art," "Here I Am Lord" and "Amazing Grace."

Pallbearers will be Doug Carrig, Daniel Carrig, John Preister, Joe Mark, Ken Babel and Dan Pabian.

Honorary pallbearers are Megan and Nathan Bahns.

Helen Paprocki was born on November 21, 1925 to John P. (Champ) and Salamae (Cuba) Paprocki at the family farm in the Burrows Township, by Tarnov, Nebraska. She was the oldest of seven children. Helen was always proud of her family, especially her siblings, Geraldine, Mary Jean, Dorothy, Frances, Emil and Charlotte. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Michaels Church in Tarnov and was a student at St. Michaels School until the eighth grade. Helen was born during the Great Depression and times were tough for her family. At an early age she would work as a live-in housekeeper and babysitter for families in the area. Recently, Helen's journal was found and here is one entry. She wrote, "On July 12, 1939, I let the five cows out and they got into the Atlas sorghum and all died, but one old roan cow. Dad never did forgive me for that. He was threshing and I was doing the chores, like always, and I didn't realize that the sorghum would kill them."

"My brother, Emil, was a baby and we had no milk cows, so I had to go to Joe Paprocki's for milk. I walked there every day, a mile and a half, one way, to get about a quart of milk. Uncle Joe was not happy when I came for the milk."
When Helen was around 16 years old, she moved with her aunt and uncle to Renton, Washington where she helped take care of their children. After a short time of in Washington State, she decided to work at Boeing Aircraft, helping to assemble B-29 Bombers during World War II.

After the war she returned to Tarnov unsure of what her future would be. That fate was settled when she went to West Point and sold a raffle ticket to a handsome young serviceman, Donald James Evans, who asked her out on a date on Tuesday, October 15, 1946 and it was love at first sight, each saying they had found the person they were going to marry. The couple eloped to Kansas City, Kansas on Friday, October 18, 1946. To this union one daughter, Helen Faith (Evans) Reick was born. In June of 1972, Jim and Helen decided to adopt two children, Tonya and Glenn Evans, making their family complete. The couple were also grandparents to Daniel, Patricia and Laura Reick and great-grandchildren, Kaitlin Reick and Megan and Nathan Bahns.

Marrying Jim thrust Helen into the newspaper business, where she started to hand-set type for the newspaper and saw the newspaper industry grow for over 60 years.

Helen and Jim were the owners and publishers of five newspapers; Colfax County Press, Leigh World, Genoa Leader-Times, Meadow Grove News and Pilger Herald. The Evans' eventually sold the Pilger Herald and Meadow Grove News. The couple retired in 1992 but their retirement didn't last long when they again became owners of the three newspapers. In 1993 they sold the three papers to their daughter, Tonya, who is still the editor. Helen worked at the paper until retiring in 2012, when she became a resident of Golden Living Center in Clarkson.

Besides being owners of the newspapers, for a short time they owned and operated the K and E Cafe, at that time located north of True Value, specializing in frosted donuts.

Through her 48 years in Clarkson, she belonged to a number of organizations, including the Clarkson Commercial Club, lifetime member of the V.F.W. Ladies Auxiliary, member of the Clarkson School Board and a member of the Nebraska Press Association, where she received the "Golden Pica Pole Award, for being in the newspaper business for over fifty years. In 2007 she was chosen for the "Krajanka" award, given annually during the Clarkson Czech Festival. She was proud of her polish heritage and proud to be a democrat, never missing a chance to vote.

Her hobbies, besides 40 hours at work, included sewing, quilting, traveling, making yearly trips to Kearney to watch the cranes, occasional trips to the casino, visiting and being with her family and pets.

Helen was especially proud of her daughter, Tonya and her granddaughter and her family, Laura, Darrell, Megan and Nathan Bahns, who were with her till her last moments.

She is survived by her daughter, Tonya Evans; granddaughter, Laura (Darrell) Bahns and great-grandchildren, Megan and Nathan Bahns; sisters, Geraldine (Richard) Preister, Mary Jean (Kelly) Schrant of Humphrey, Dorothy (Donald) Schaecher of Gretna and Charlotte (Ray) Jemison of Columbus; sister-in-law Kate Paprocki of Omaha, many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great-nephews and many great friends. Also, let's not forgot her dog, Mitzi Suh, who brought her joy in the last years of her life.

Other survivors include a daughter, Helen Faith (James) Reick; grandson, Daniel Reick; granddaughter, Patti Reick and great-granddaughter, Kaitlin Reick, all of Clarkson and a son, Glenn James Evans of California.

She was preceded in death by her husband, D.J. (Jim) Evans, September 19, 1998; parents, John and Mae Cuba, brothers, Emil and Francis Paprocki.


I'M FREE

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free
I'm following the path God has chosen for me.
I took His hand when I heard him call;
I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day,
To laugh, to love, to work or play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way;
I've now found peace at the end of day.

If my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joys.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss;
Oh yes, these things, I too will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow
Look for the sunshine of tomorrow.

My life's been full, I savored much;
Good friends, good times, a loved ones touch.
Perhaps my time seems all to brief;
Don't lengthen your pain with undue grief.

Lift up your heart and peace to thee,
God wanted me now - he set me free.

Service Folder Information
In Loving Memory Of

Helen C. Evans

Born
Saturday, November 21, 1925
Platte County, Nebraska

Entered Into Rest
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
Clarkson, Nebraska

Mass of Christian Burial
Thursday, March 23, 2017 10:30 AM
SS Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church
Clarkson, Nebraska

Celebrant
Fr. Rod Kneifl

Music
Annette Baumert – Organist
Kathy Baumert – Cantor
Nancy Musil – Soloist
SS Cyril & Methodius Choir

Casket Bearers
Doug Carrig
John Preister
Daniel Carrig
Joe Mark
Dan Pabian
Ken Babel

Honorary Bearers
Megan Bahns
Nathan Bahns

Interment
Clarkson Catholic Cemetery
Clarkson, Nebraska