Helen Day

Helen was born to George and Marie Rempel in Fowler, Kansas, the youngest of 13 siblings and the only one of the Rempel children born in a hospital. She grew up on her family’s dairy farm near Meade, Kansas, graduated high school from Meade Bible Academy, and attended Emmanuel Mennonite Church.

Helen wanted to become a nurse from an early age and worked several summers as a cook for her family’s harvest crew to help pay for her education at Tabor College and Wesley School of Nursing. While at Wesley, she met a medical student from K.U. named Howard Day. Despite having vowed to never marry a doctor, Helen married Howard in November, 1972. They spent their first anniversary in Kisumu, Kenya, serving as medical missionaries. After returning to the U.S., they settled in Kansas City, Kansas, where their two surviving children (son, Ryan, and daughter, Lori) were born. They moved to Wichita, Kansas, in 1979 for Howard to pursue a career with The Wichita Nephrology Group, and Helen decided to retire from nursing to be a full-time mother and homemaker.

Helen’s quiet, stalwart faith in God grew deep roots through seasons of hardship, and inspired her loving service to others (especially those suffering illness or grief), steadfast friendships, and generous hospitality. She volunteered for years with Victory in the Valley, Meals-on-Wheels, and hospice care. She served alongside many older women at First Evangelical Free Church, eagerly absorbing their wisdom and continually becoming a woman who reflected their caring ways and godliness into the lives around her. The family dinner table regularly included visitors, friends, and her children’s schoolmates.

Her theology was simple, but profoundly and beautifully embodied. Love God. Love others. Every day. Helen enjoyed sewing, handwork embroidery, scrapbooking, reading, decorating, baking, playing hymns on the piano, studying the Bible, writing notes of encouragement to others, hosting family gatherings, traveling with friends and family, cheering for the Jayhawks’ and Shockers’ basketball teams, walking her dogs, mowing at the Day family farm, keeping flower gardens, wearing pretty scarves, drinking Diet Coke, and trying out the latest cleaning or cooking gadgets. She delighted in her children, proudly attending softball games, swim meets, piano recitals, band concerts, Ryan and Hillary’s wedding, and many graduations. Her wry, gentle humor appeared most often in the recounting of stories of shared experiences or in a lightly sarcastic comment while working with you side-by-side. She was so thankful when Howard retired to take on caring for her after she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Even though she hated not being able to do everything they had wanted to, she cherished those final years together in his care. She suffered from Parkinson’s for the final 14 years of her life, and though she eventually lost many of her physical and mental capacities, she remained a faith-filled, peaceful, loving person.

She is preceded in death by her parents, George J. and Marie L. (Friesen) Rempel, and siblings Herman, Pete, Eldon, Erma, and Donald. She is survived by her husband, Howard Day; children Ryan Day (Hillary Day Lum) and Lori Day; siblings Margaret, Will, John, Edwin, Walter, Marilyn, and Eileen; and many dear friends. Helen’s legacy of faith and lovingkindness persists in the lives of those who knew her. Until the Kingdom comes, we miss her so much.

A private burial service took place on August 31, 2022. A memorial service will be held September 17,
2022, at 10 AM, at First Evangelical Free Church in Wichita, Kansas.

Donations in Helen’s honor may be directed to Victory in the Valley or First Evangelical Free Church.