Justa Joiner Helm

Justa Joiner Helm passed away peacefully at home on April 23, 2019. She was surrounded by family and friends.

Justa was born in Houston on Aug. 23, 1939 to Justa Joiner (Cartwright) Helm and Shirley Maxwell Helm. Justa graduated from St. John’s School in 1957, attended Duke University and became an active member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority. After two years at Duke, Justa transferred to the University of Arizona (Tucson) and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1961.

Upon graduation, Justa moved to San Francisco, Calif. for work and travel. After a brief stay there, she returned to Houston and joined the Junior League and River Oaks Garden Club. She married Richard Gordon Rorschach in 1963, and they had three children, Richard, Reagan, and Andrew.

In the summer of 1975, Justa moved to Schulenburg where her children graduated high school and she lived for the remainder of her life.

Justa was an active member of St. James Episcopal Church and devoted much of her time, energy, and resources into growing the church. For a brief couple of years, Justa lived in San Antonio and devoted much of her time sponsoring many individuals who were dealing with drug and alcohol addiction and helped them find sobriety. Every Tuesday, she volunteered with St. Mark’s Hospital in La Grange helping people in the emergency room and general admissions. One of Justa’s passions was Schulenburg Backstage where she acted in such productions as “Steel Magnolias,” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” and Shakespeare’s “The Comedy of Errors.” The Literary Club of Schulenburg, which benefits the Schulenburg Library, was another one of Justa’s true loves as she was an avid reader and wanted others to share in the joy of reading. She was a member of the Schulenburg Lions Club and served as president helping to give back to the community.

Justa is survived by her three sons and their wives and seven grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at St. James Episcopal Church in La Grange at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 18, 2019.