Imogene Bruner Helm

Imogene Bruner Helm passed away peacefully on Monday morning, June 22, 2026, at 97 years old. The family thanks the caring staff at the Bradford Home and Catalina Hospice for their kind attention to Imogene's comfort. She is survived by Timothy Helm (Sharmin Pool), Halcyon Lisa Helm (Dave Carr), Arthur Helm (Nicola Richmond), grandchildren Ariel and Michael, and a host of family and dear friends. She was predeceased by her parents, brothers, youngest child Frederick, and her loving husband Harvey. She was also predeceased by her companion Len Ferrone, leader of the Bourbon Street Dixieland Band, whom she met and fell in love with many years after the passing of her husband.

Imogene was born on March 28, 1929, in Libertyville, Illinois, and grew up on a cherished family farm in Cumberland, Maryland, the youngest of four children of Mr. and Mrs. Warren Bruner and Jane Iva (Foster) Bruner. Her father then moved to family to Geneva, New York, where Imogene graduated from William Smith College in 1950 with a degree in English. She sang in the Schola Cantorum and the St. John's Motet choir and played flute in the college orchestra. She remained close to her classmates and attended many college reunions. A lifelong proponent of education, Imogene donated to the Kathryn D. Cook endowed scholarship for literature students, and the Lindsay Lafford Scholarship for Musical Performance in honor of two professors who had a lasting influence on her life.

Imogene studied Horticulture at Cornell University and wrote and edited florist publications. From there, she visited her brother Foster Bruner, who was a resident at Harvey's mother's boarding house on University Blvd in Tucson (now U of A hang out and pub Frog and Firkin). She met and married the love of her life and father of her four children, Harvey T. Helm, and remained in Tucson ever since.

After her children were in school, she earned two master’s degrees from the University of Arizona and embarked on a rewarding career teaching reading, writing, and English at Maxwell Jr. High, Pima Community College, and other Tucson schools. Mrs. Helm was one of the founding members of the Tucson Flute Club in 1970, and a long-time member of the Tucson Concert Band, founded by Howard Beaver, where she formed many close friendships, including Fran Moskovitz, who was like a daughter to her. She loved their many trips, including Europe and Australia.

Harvey and Imogene lived a full and active life, joining as pioneers in the local Childbirth Education Association, taking family trips all over the country, and spending time at their humble Willow Canyon cabin on Mt. Lemmon.

The family will hold a celebration of life at a later time in Tucson. Donations in her name would be gratefully accepted by the Tucson Flute Club or an environmental charity of your choice.