Helen Sperber

Helen Maxine Sperber (Brown), age 82, died on February 5, 2022, in Grand Junction, CO, after a long and heroic battle with Parkinson’s Disease.

Helen was born on October 6, 1939, in Herington, KS. A Buena Vista (Colorado) High School graduate, Helen attended Western State College. She earned her bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Minnesota and later an M.A. in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University, New Orleans, LA.

Helen spent her life serving others. Through her careers as journalist (CO), activities director at La Villa Grande Nursing Home (Grand Junction, CO) and Parish Coordinator at St. Anne’s Catholic Church (Palisade, CO.), she touched many lives. However, she is most remembered and most proud of her roles as mother and author. Helen spent her life writing poetry and short stories. In her last years, she fulfilled her lifelong dream: writing and publishing a novel, The Blue Wildebeest (2017) and a poetry compilation, Paper Days and Years (2018).

Helen was a member of “Women Writing for a Change” and credited the dear friends and fellow writers from this group as pivotal in encouraging her and helping her to reach her writing goals.

Helen was a devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend. Those who were blessed to have known Helen will always remember her great ability to see possibilities and work toward making the world a richer, kinder place for those within her circle. Helen loved unconditionally.

Helen was preceded in death by her mother, Lela Mae Jones Brown, father, Cecil Gaylord Brown Sr. and brother, Cecil Gaylord Brown Jr. She is survived by a sister, Ruth Ann (Larry) Laudemann, brother Jerry Krag (Diane) Brown; co-parents and lifelong friends, James and Carol Sperber; four daughters: Anna Elise (Jim) Goetz, Cezanne Elaine (Brad) Witsken, Kimberly Dawn (Frank) Lindemann, and Erinn Monet (Matthew) Fought; 11 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, February 26, 2022, at the Koinonia Church (730 25 Road, Grand Junction) at 2:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Hope West, Hospice of the Grand Valley, whose staff of angels helped us to relieve Helen’s pain and lovingly share her final days. To honor Helen, please consider reading her books, available on Amazon and Kindle.