Helen Joan Albers

Helen Joan Albers, known as Joan, left family and friends to meet her Heavenly Father on Sunday, April 7th, 2019 at Benton House of Staley Hills, a caring and loving independent living community in Kansas City, Missouri. She was 87 years old and died peacefully surrounded by her loved ones.


Joan was born in Quinter, Kansas, on February 1,1932, the fifth of nine children born to Philip and Katherine (Leiker) Depperschmidt. She married George F. Albers on August 9, 1955 and enjoyed 44 wonderful years with him before he passed in 2000. Her oldest son, Gregory Joe, passed away in 1957, and her fourth oldest son, James died in January of this year.


Joan was also pre-deceased by her parents and siblings: Edwin (Ed) Depperschmidt, Bernadine (Bunny) Pomarico, Lillian (Lil) Walker, Alvera (Vera) Jackson, Ronald (Ron) Depperschmidt, Aileen Flipse, and Leroy (Lee) Depperschmidt and sister-in-law Barbara Depperschmidt, and brothers-in-law Pat Jackson, Dave Flipse, Leonard Nelke and Roxie Pomarico, and her great-granddaughter Brylee Albers.

She is survived by her children: Mike (Patti) Albers, Fred (Susan) Albers, Bart (Mary K) Albers, Mary (Rod) Jordan, and Tom (Tina) Albers; daughter-in-law Loraine (Jim) Albers; grandchildren: David (Melissa) Albers; Candace (Derek) McDonough; Holly Albers and Jordan Albers; Sarah Albers, Amanda Albers, Troy (Braylynn) Albers, and Christine Albers; Colt Albers; MacKenzie (Kris) Neuhauser, Kord Albers, Adyson Albers, Brenlynn Albers and Brogan Albers; great-grandchildren: Riley Trouster, Dillon Schmidt, Reagan Albers, and Maddison Ruppert; her only living sister: Judy Nelke; as well as numerous relatives and friends.

Joan had a love of music, graduating from Saint Mary College, Leavenworth, Kansas, in 1954 with a Bachelor of Music Education Degree; she instilled this love in her children and many students she taught during her tenure as an elementary music teacher in Grinnell, Oakley, and Colby, Kansas. She organized “Young at Heart”, a musical group of women who performed at various locations around Colby. She was also very active in the Western Plains Arts Association.

Joan was devoted to her family, her faith, and to her church, where she was active in Daughters of Isabella, Altar Society, served as Eucharistic Minister and choir director, and played the piano and organ until the age of 85. She had a unique way of drawing people in and endearing herself to them by making them believe in themselves and feel special. She had a wide circle of friends and enjoyed morning coffee after Mass with her “Coffee Gals.” Joan had a remarkable sense of humor with her witty one-liners bringing laughter to family and friends right up to the end.

The family would like to thank the staff at Benton House of Staley Hills in Kansas City for their attentiveness, loving care, and ability to bring Joan peace and make her feel like she was at home. During her last days Joan received a constant stream of visits, hugs, kisses, and tears from Benton House staff whose lives she had touched deeply in a short amount of time.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Colby, Kansas, on Friday, April 12th at 10:30 a.m. The Rosary will be at Baalmann Mortuary on Thursday, April 11th, at 7:00 p.m. with visitation from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Memorial donations may be made for Masses and/or to Sacred Heart Church in Joan’s name, in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For condolences or information visit www.baalmannmortuary.com