Kathleen Helvey

Kathleen Gail Helvey, 57, of Little Rock, passed away in the morning of April 7, 2010. She was born in St. Paul Minnesota on October 11, 1952 to Bill and Alvina Van Antwerp. She was the sister of Steven Van Antwerp, wife of Bob Helvey for 31 years and mother to Jessica, Stephanie and Robby. Born to a Baptist minister and Mennonite mother, Kathy experienced life as a typical mid-western "PK" (preacher's kid), which meant she lived in several towns throughout her childhood. She graduated from Bethel University in St. Paul with a degree in Elementary Education. A few months later began a history of living in several countries, starting with teaching school in Brisbane, Australia. It was while in Australia that her life-long faith in Jesus Christ started to "take off," as she would put it. She joined the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ, Australia in 1976 and began working with students at Sydney University. About a year later, she returned to the U.S. and married Bob Helvey, also a Campus Crusade staff member. She experienced the following 31 years of "their great adventure" by ministering to hundreds of female students on the Cal State Hayward, University of New South Wales, Australia and Auckland University, New Zealand campuses. While in New Zealand, she and Bob started FamilyLife New Zealand, where Kathy helped married women strengthen their marriages and families. During the last fifteen years of her life, she lived with her husband and children in Roland, Arkansas and helped recruit, train and encourage speaking wives on the FamilyLife Weekend to Remember Speaker Team. To all that knew Kathy, she brought a spark to their lives with her genuine friendship and zest for life. She was the best wife a husband could only dream of, a tireless and passionate mother and faithful servant of Jesus. We will miss her immeasurably, but not for long. She will be waiting for us with that inviting smile and infectious personality. We simply cannot thank enough those who stood beside the Helvey family during this challenging time, especially the entire Redeemer Community Church family and community group, Kathy's colleagues and friends at FamilyLife, Dr. Mendelsohn and staff at the Little Rock Hematology/Oncology Clinic and the awesome nursing staff on floor 10 of Baptist Hospital in Little Rock. Last, but not least, thank you to the hundreds of "Kathy's Effective Pray-ers" who spent countless hours on their knees on behalf of Kathy and her family. Your prayers have been answered. Kathy is home. "I am the Lord your God. I go before you, I am with you, and I'll never leave you or fail you. Do not be discouraged or afraid." Deut. 31:8, Kathy's favorite verse Visitation will be Sunday evening from 6-8 p.m. at Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct. (NW corner I-630 and Barrow Rd.), Little Rock. Services will be Monday, April 12 at 12 Noon at Markham Street Baptist Church. Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, (501)224-2200. Kathleen's online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.