HELEN J. JOHNSTON

MUSCATINE, Iowa – Helen J. Johnston, 97, passed away on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Downtown.

Graveside Service will be at 12:00 p.m. on Monday, November 10, 2025, at Greenwood Cemetery. Pastor Don Swanson will officiate.

Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. on Monday, November 10, 2025, at the Ralph J. Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Children Hospital. Online condolences: www.wittichfuneralhome.com.

Helen was born on February 5, 1928, in Muscatine, the daughter of Elmer and Fern Brown Weggen. She married Leroy Metcalfe on December 2, 1949. He preceded her in death in 1955. She later married Paul Johnston on September 8, 1961. He preceded her in death in 1981.

Helen was a telephone operator at Northwestern Bell. She retired after 27.5 years of employment. She was a former member of the First Baptist Church.

Helen is survived by her daughters, Julie (Doug) Yates of Oskaloosa and Rose Crumly of Muscatine; grandchildren, Amy (Troy) Lane, Chad (Katherine) Crumly, Rian (Emma) Yates; several great and great great grandchildren; sister, Vickie (Gary) Elliott; and sisters-in-law, Lois Bevan and Sharon Weggen.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Leroy and Paul; brothers, Mel Weggen and Larry Weggen; and sisters, JoAnn Fisher and Donna Weggen.