Obit: Papierniak, Helen Barbara (1923 - 2015)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Papierniak, Sadowski, Wolowik, Okon, Mueller, Jacobs, Ostby, Marvin, Wink, Shepard, Jankoski, Wyatt, Byce, Brennan, Pawlak, Robertson, Gustafson, Kowalski

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., WI) 9/23/2015

Papierniak, Helen Barbara (23 August 1923 - 18 September 2015)

Helen B. Papierniak, age 92, of Thorp, passed away on Friday, September 18, 2015, at her home. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, September 23, 2015, at St. Bernard-St. Hedwig’s Catholic Church in Thorp. Rev. Janusz Kowalski officiated and burial followed in Old St. Hedwig’s Catholic Cemetery.

Pallbearers were: Jason Ostby, Josh Ostby, Alex Jacobs, Jared Jankoski, Luke Papierniak and Adam Papierniak. Helen’s granddaughters: Julie Marvin, Jesska Wink, Kristin Wyatt, Amber Byce, Jill Jankoski, Dr. Megan Shepard and Nicole Papierniak, served as honorary pallbearers.

Visitation was held at the Thorp Funeral Home on Tuesday, September 22, 2015, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a 7:30 p.m. rosary. Visitation was also held at the church on Wednesday, from 9:30 a.m. until time of service.

Helen Barbara Wolowik was born on August 23, 1923, in the Town of Reseburg, rural Thorp, to Anton and Mary (Sadowski) Wolowik. She attended Oakland Grade School, Thorp High School, and Miss Brown’s Girl School in Milwaukee. During WWII, she worked at Nesco War Plant as a secretary and bookkeeper. Later, in 1943, Hellen went to San Diego, CA, where she met and married Lt. Robert Okon, who was in the U.S. Navy, and a daughter, Gail, was born to them. Robert’s plane was shot down over Malaysia. Coming back to Thorp, she married Theodore “Ted” Papierniak on February 15, 1947.

Helen was a certified nursing assistant, working at Victory Memorial Hospital, in Stanley, and later doing home care with the Clark County Home Care Agency. She kept busy and was involved with her children’s interests such as Boy Scouts and 4-H, and was actively involved in her church circle. After retiring from home health care, she had an antique shop as a hobby. She loved collecting antiques and spending the holidays with her family. Helen also enjoyed golf, bowling, snowmobiling and quilting.

She is survived by her children: Gail (Dave) Mueller of Tallahassee, FL, Jerilyn (Robert) Jacobs of Hudson, Jon (Kerry) Papierniak of Thorp, Jeffrey (Barb) Papierniak of Underwood, IA, Brian Papierniak of Thorp; 13 grandchildren: Jason (Wendy) Ostby, Julie (Joel) Marvin, Joshua (Sarah) Ostby, Jesseka (Troy) Wink, Alex Jacobs, Like Papierniak, Adam Papierniak, Dr. Megan (Chris) Shepard, Nicole Papierniak, Jared Jankoski, Jill Jankoski, Kristin (Jason) Wyatt and Amber (Neil) Byce. Also surviving are two special daughters: Sharon (Mike) Brennan and Renee (John) Pawlak; 22 great-grandchildren: Brittannie Robertson, Ivy Brooklyn, Evan and Morgan Ostby, Gabriel, Braden, Jagger and Emmi Marvin, Tysen and Jamesen Wink, Cullen and Leighton Wyatt, Sawyer and Landry Byce, Maia and Peyton Papierniak, Jon and Hana Papierniak, Will Jankoski, Rosalee and Eden Gustafson; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ted, on September 28, 2006; her parents; brothers: William, Walter, Steve and Edward; and sisters: Mary Frances and Harriet.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.cuddiefh.com.  Thorp Funeral home assisted the family with arrangements.