Obituary of Helen Amelia Kroening

Helen Kroening, age 91, of Wisconsin Rapids passed away peacefully November 3, 2016 at Hilltop Alpine Terrace. Services will be held at 1:30 P.M. on Monday, November 7, 2016 at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wisconsin Rapids. Rev. Martin Baur will officiate. Visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 P.M. on Sunday, November 6, at Herman-Taylor Funeral Home and on Monday from 12:30 until the time of service at the church. Burial will be at Restlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Online condolences may be expressed at www.taylorfuneralhome.net. Helen Amelia (Hafermann) Kroening was born on December 14, 1924 in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin to Arthur and Laura (Schroeder) Hafermann. She was baptized January 4, 1925 at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, where she remained a life-time member. She attended grade school at St. Paul’s Lutheran School and was confirmed on May 8, 1938. She graduated from grade school there in May, 1938. Helen attended Lincoln High School, graduating in 1942. Helen grew up on the family dairy farm, the middle child in a family of thirteen children. After graduating from Lincoln High School she was hired by Consolidated Papers, Inc., where she worked as a bookkeeper for five years. She married Edward Kroening on August 30, 1947. They had four children. Helen was a homemaker and stay-at-home mom while her children were small. When they were in school, she worked at St. Paul’s Lutheran School for two years in their hot lunch program and also babysat for a neighbor’s children. Over these years she also took classes in tailoring, millinery, and upholstering. She volunteered her services at her church in different capacities. She was a past president of Willing Workers, A Girl Pioneer leader, a member of the choir for three years, worked on the church newsletter staff, served at church funerals with the Handi-Handmaidens, was a tabulator of contributions at St. Paul’s Church and sometimes helped with Vacation Bible School. In 1970, her brother, Richard, changed the family farm into a golf course and she took up golfing and became a member of the Ladies Day Golf League. She worked for four years as a cook in the restaurant at the golf course. She also enjoyed bowling and was a member of a Thursday morning bowling league. Helen loved music and singing. She learned to play the piano, organ, and guitar. Her junior year of high school, she and her sister Cece sang weekly on the Red Blanchard Radio Show. In later years, she sang with the Hafermann Singers at local nursing homes. She spent many happy hours rocking and singing to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She wrote down the words and music to many old songs she knew and passed them down to the next generations. She became interested in writing and joined the Wisconsin Rapids Area Writer’s Club. This group wrote and performed plays which were hosted by Homestead Gold Course. Helen performed and sang in these plays. She wrote countless poems for others to help them through difficult and sad times in their lives and to help them celebrate life’s milestones and joys. She published four poetry books and also published a book, “Cherished Family Tales and Ties”, that told the story of her family and their life on the farm. Helen is survived by 3 daughters: Gayle (George) Yogurtian of Fountain Valley, CA; Terri (Joe) Leek of Stevens Point, WI; Gloria (Jerry) Hamm of Neillsville, WI; 1 son: Karl (Kris) Kroening of Janesville, WI. Helen is also survived by her brother: Robert (Joan) Hafermann of Wisconsin Rapids; in-laws: Jim and Nancy Kroening of Phoenix, AZ; Vivian Kroll and Pat Schade all of Wisconsin Rapids, WI; eleven grandchildren and two step-grandchildren, as well as many great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Helen was preceded in death by her parents: Arthur and Laura Hafermann, her husband: Edward Kroening, three sisters: Verna, Ruth, and Cecelia, and eight brothers: Leonard, Earl, Arthur Jr., Richard, Arnim, Harold, George and Elmer. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Mortgage Fund.