Helen Horn

Horn, Helen M., CPS Kalamazoo Age 77, went to her heavenly home on Monday, June 14, 2021, peacefully in her sleep. Helen was born on December 21, 1943, the daughter of the late Ralph David, Sr. and Elizabeth Anna (Multhaupt) Brown. She was proud of being born on the shortest day of the year, the year of the lead penny and being left-handed. Helen grew up in Vicksburg and graduated from Vicksburg High School, class of 1961. While in high school, she was a cheerleader, a member of the Lucinda Hinsdale Stone Chapter of the DAR and was in the quintet, The Five Pennies. She attended Northwoods Institute, WMU and Kalamazoo Valley Community College where she received her associate degree. Helen started her career at WKMI AM Radio and in 1967, started working at WMU from where she retired in 2005. At WMU, she served as secretary to the Dean of Engineering and then worked for Dr. Harley Behm in the Department of Transportation and Technology (now the Department of Aviation). During the last ten years of her career, she served as Budget Specialist in the Provost Office. Helen was the first Certified Professional Secretary (CPS) at WMU. She was a longtime member of the Portage United Church of Christ where she served on many boards and committees, as well as being church moderator for two years. Helen had a soft spot in her heart for her church. She was a charter member of the Breakfast Optimist Club of Kalamazoo (BOCK), served as its Secretary-Treasurer and had perfect attendance for the past 30 years. Family was especially important to her. Helen is survived by her husband and VHS classmate, David Horn; children, Kathryn "Kathy" (Dave Kerley) Abts-Kerley of Allegan and Thomas "Tom" (Kathy) Pressey of Kalamazoo; grandchildren, Joshua (Stephanie) Abts, Nichele Abts, Riley Pressey, Sydney Pressey, Ian (Keely) Kerley, Gabriel Kerley, Connor Pressey, Ashlynn Kerley and Alexis "Lexi" Pressey; great-grandchildren, Noah Abts, Kameron Abts and James Kerley; like her daughter, Sharon (Mike) VanDyken of Rockford; life-long friend and classmate, James R. Haas of Kalamazoo; "BFF", Joann Smith of Paw Paw; siblings, Nancy (Otto) Decker of Vicksburg, Ralph David, Jr. (Wendy) Brown of Bay City, Patricia (Paul) Weber of Kalamazoo, Elizabeth (William) Bushouse of Kalamazoo and John (Laurie) Brown of Kalamazoo; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Helen was preceded in death by her brother, Robert Brown; two nieces and a nephew; mother in-law, Audrey K. (Horn) Baugh; and special friends, Tami Porter, Marilyn Brown and Karen Schuring. A visitation will be held at Joldersma & Klein Funeral Home on Monday, June 21, 2021, from 2:00 – 4:00 and 6:00 – 8:00 PM. A graveside service will take place on Tuesday, June 22 at 10:30 AM at Genessee Prairie Cemetery on the corner of 11th St. and Parkview Ave. in Kalamazoo. Memorial contributions in memory of Helen may be made to Kairos Dwelling. The family would like to thank Dr. Richard Tonda, Dr. Christopher Rogers and Sean O'Neil, PA-C for their compassionate care of Helen. God bless you all! Friends and family may share a condolence message online at www.joldersma-klein.com.