Helen Marie Rieck, age 94, passed away peacefully in her home Friday September 22nd, 2023.
Helen married Norman Rieck April 29th, 1950. Helen retired from St. Nicholas hospital in 1994 after working as a nurses’ aide in the maternity ward for decades. Helen had a passion for nature; she loved spending time in her gardens working or just basking in the sun on her porch swing. Her love for animals (dogs, cats, birds, deer, etc) was well known to her family and friends… as was her dislike for squirrels eating from her bird feeders and rabbits eating from her garden. Helen’s green thumb produced many fruits, vegetables, and gorgeous flowers for decades. She taught her grandchildren to rub the leaves of herbs to get the true scent of the plant. Helen was an avid reader, science fiction was her favorite genre. She loved science of the unknown: outer space, stars and the planets. Helen beat cancer in 1990 but lost her voice due to the battle. Helen loved telling stories of the old days and even wrote down some of her favorite memories to share with her family. She loved her family and enjoyed watching her grandchildren grow. Helen never drove a car, flew in a plane, or road in train, but she was always on the move walking many miles every week until her body slowed her down in her old age.
Helen’s surviving family members: Daughter Sandra Rieck Wimmler and Son Denis Rieck both of Sheboygan, and Daughter Debra Rieck Herber of Grayslake, IL. Grandchildren: Sara (Stuart) Smith (Mazomanie, WI), Michelle Wimmler Awe (Cumming, GA), Kathryn (Wes) Bonine (Excelsior, MN), Dawn (Filiberto) Robledo (Sheboygan), August (Kalia) Rieck (Sheboygan), Jacqlyn (Jay) Coleman (Palatine, IL), Marci (David) Guilimette (Grayslake, IL), Scott Herber (Falling Waters, W. VA). Great Grandchildren: Ashley (Branden) Bizzell, Kirstin (Eugene) Vandervault, Luke and Reilly Carlson, Elias and Elian Robledo, Gavin and Storie Rieck, Claire and Kylie Coleman, Jack Guilimette, Isaac and Hudson Bonine, Felicity Herber and also Great-Great Granddaughter Kinsley Vanderwalt. Nephews: Perry (Sherry) and Michael (Angi) Lutze and sister-in-law Mary Beth Lutze. Lastly, her beloved dog and companion Floyd.
Helen is preceded in death by her parents Elmer and Clara Stoltenberg Lutze, Sister Irene Lutze all of Cleveland, WI, Brother Edward Lutze of Sheboygan Falls, and ex-husband Norman Rieck of Sheboygan.
A private service was held for the family at the Olson Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Sheboygan
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