Helen Arnold Obituary

Helen McMahon Arnold of Wausau, Wisconsin passed away peacefully on June 23, 2025 after living and loving for 97 years.
Helen was born on June 3, 1928 and raised in Chicago, Illinois where she, her siblings and friends loved to play and roller skate in her grandfather's dancehall. She married James P McMahon in 1947. They lived in Champagne, Illinois before heading back to Chicago in 1950. Helen and Jim raised their family in Palos Park, IL where the family enjoyed pool parties, a variety of pets, camping in their yard, and being treated to Helen's excellent cooking and baking. Helen also loved to do the neighbor ladies' hair, play bridge, and get together with friends. Helen moved with Jim to Scottsdale, Arizona in 1971 where she made a new set of friends. They moved to Prescott Valley, AZ in 1981 where Helen was active in the Prescott Country Club Property Owners Association. Helen was a fixture in the POA office where she published a community newsletter and always had a welcoming smile. Following the death of her husband Jim in 1992, Helen remained in Prescott Valley.
She married Martial Arnold in 1998. Helen and Martial took annual road trips across the country to visit members of their blended family. They enjoyed following the Arizona Diamondbacks together, visiting Laughlin, NV and stayed active with friends in the community. After Martial's sudden passing in 2017 Helen moved to Primrose Senior Living in Wausau WI to be closer to many of her family members. While living there she loved playing cards with her new neighbors, building puzzles in the hallways, and getting visits from family. She started each day with a slice of cinnamon coffee cake which she said was her key to a long life.
Helen loved her ever growing family. She loved spending holidays and summer weeks with family and singing to them on their birthdays. She had a knack for winning her poker slots at the casino, loved taking her grandkids roller skating, playing cards, knitting scarves and hats, and socializing with friends.
Helen is preceded in death by her husband of 19 years, Martial Arnold; her husband of 45 years, James P McMahon; her brothers, Andrew Walter, Joseph Walter and James Walter; her sister, Joanne Wurm; and her loving parents, Andrew & Johanna Walter. Her mother, Johanna, was in Helen's thoughts until the very end.
Helen is survived by her 4 children: James McMahon Jr., Linda (Warren) Kobilca, Michael (Michele) McMahon, and Jeffrey McMahon; her grandchildren: Jordan (Jen) Kobilca, Tonya (Blair) Mathewson, Lacey (Frank) Lund Worley, Katherine (Brian) McFarlane, Emrys (Michelle) McMahon, Kevin (Molly) McMahon, and Jacquie (Davis) Hudson. She leaves behind her many great-grandchildren: Alexandra (Alec) Camarote, Lainey Lund, Mackenzie Japs, Franklin Lund, Easton Japs, Kenton Kobilca, Brynna McMahon, Carver Kobilca, Maxwell McMahon, Magnolia Worley, Alexandra McMahon, Rory McMahon, Oakes Hudson and her great-great-grandchild, Emberly Camarote. Helen also loved her multiple bonus children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren through marriage as well as her many nieces and nephews. She had many other friends and loved ones who will all miss her dearly.
In lieu of flowers we ask that you do one or more of the following in memory of Helen:
Visit your grandparents
Spend time with your parents
Love one another
Start a new puzzle
Share a piece of cinnamon coffee cake with a loved one
Go roller skating
Play cards
Learn to knit
Helen was an amazing matriarch to our family and she will be greatly missed. A private celebration of life will be planned at a later date for the immediate family.
To send flowers to the family of Helen, please visit our floral store.