Obituary of Helen R. Heinrich

Obituary of Helen Heinrich

Helen R. Heinrich, age 82, formerly of Nekoosa and Wisconsin Rapids, passed away Thursday, July 6, 2017

Visitation will be held from 9:00 am to 11:00 am on Saturday July 15 at Herman-Taylor Funeral Home in Wisconsin Rapids, with services to follow at 11:00 am.

Helen was born May 6, 1935 in Luverne Minnesota to Arnold and Grace (Axelson) Welzenbach.  She graduated as Salutatorian of George Iowa High School, where she played trumpet in the band, and sang in the choir.  After high school she attended Macalister College.  While visiting a friend at Iowa State she met Howard Heinrich and it was love at first sight.  Howard and Helen Married on June 10, 1956 in Luverne MN, and were blessed with five children and 58 years of marriage.

In her teen years Helen worked at a hardware store, and later used her knowledge to help Howard open the family Hardware Store in Wonder Lake, IL, which they ran for many years.  After selling the store Helen and Howard purchased multiple Mobile Home Parks in Illinois and Wisconsin.  She continued to work outside the Parks as an office professional and a Realtor, in the Town of Rome and Wisconsin Rapids. Helen and Howard went on to develop a new Senior Park in the Town of Saratoga, WI.

Helen was very active in the community and a member of multiple Bridge clubs, where she developed lifelong friendships.  She loved her family and enjoyed camping, pontoon rides on the river, and traveling in her motor home.  She enjoyed playing slots at the casinos.  She loved reading, singing and playing the piano, and was an exceptional cook that shared all her recipes.  Some of her happiest times were spent with Howard at the Enchanted Valley Ranch in Texas, where they lived for almost 20 years as “snow birds”.  She had a wonderful (massive) collection of Dolls that she took much pride in; and often welcomed friends and visitors into her to home to view the collection and share stories.

Helen is survived by four children, Lisa (Scott) Drummond of Baraboo, WI, Mary (Kent) Brauninger of Kansas City, MO, Amy McCallum of Phoenix, AZ, Neil (Chrystal) Heinrich of Stevens Point, WI, and daughter-in-law Cindy Heinrich of Seattle, WA.  She has seventeen grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her husband Howard, her son Ward Heinrich, and her parents.