More than anything else, Helen Ann loved Mike and her family. She devoted her life to making their home a warm and loving place. She was honest, smart, strong, genuine, kind and humble. She made every Christmas a magical experience with her cooking, baking, and artfully wrapped Christmas presents.
As an excellent wildlife artist, she was invited to travel with the Silver Dollar City craft shows. Helen Ann had a keen eye for acquiring antique tine, post cards, furniture, and timeless treasures from her farming youth. She loved wildflowers so much that she became a master gardener and volunteered her free time at the Vernon County Historical Society of Nevada, MO. You will find a mural she painted at the Bushwhacker Museum. She also made beautiful, thoughtful scrapbooks for her family.
Helen Ann loved her two daughters. She enjoyed horses and was often a part of Christine’s many horse show competitions. Helen Ann passed on her cooking and crafting magic to Nichole.
Helen Ann is survived by her two daughters, Christine Kunzweiler of Tulsa, OK and Nichole Jacobs of Tualatin, OR; and her younger brother, Edwin Streich and his wife, Beth, of Carthage, MO. She will be missed by her sons-in-law, Steve and Brian; four granddaughters, Sandra, Jenny, Jackie, and Jessica; as well as her niece, Lindsey. She also was blessed to have two great-grandsons, Alex and Andrew with Sandra’s marriage to Ryan Gabay. She was preceded in death by her husband, Mike, and her parents.
Helen Ann was laid to rest next to her husband, Mike Cleveland in Newton Burial Park, Nevada, MO. on June 7, 2025 with Father Peter Savidge officiating. The family suggests memorial contributions to the Vernon County Historical Society in c/o Ferry Funeral Home.
