Obit: Heier, Helyn K. (1915 - 2016)

Transcriber: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Ackeret, Anderson, Heier, Hoock, Juza, Potaczak, Ruge, Stefancin, Teal, Tomczyk, Wilcox, Zerngible

----Source: WIGM/WKEB Obituaries (Medford, WI) 6/23/2016

Heier, Helyn K. (Ruge) (24 JAN 1915 - 22 JUN 2016)

Helyn K. (Ruge) Heier was born to Edgar and Helen Ruge, on January 24, 1915.

On June 22, 2016, our Helyn passed away of natural causes.

Survivors include seven children, 5 boys and 2 girls; sons David (Darlene Tomczyk) Heier, Gregory (Maureen Ackeret) Heier, Tracy (Kathy Wilcox) Heier, Neal “Bud” Heier, Stuart ”Bomber”(Laura Potaczak) Heier all of Medford; daughters Camille (Willard) Anderson of Wausau, Edith (Robert) Hoock of Abbotsford; Twenty-two grandchildren and twenty-three great grandchildren.

Helyn was preceded in death by her husband Alfred “Fritz” Heier in December 1976, her daughter-in-law Nora (Zerngible) Heier in April 2001, brother Ernie and two sisters Elaine and Dorothy.

Services for Helyn will take place at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, June 25, 2016 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Medford with Father Phil Juza and Deacon Joseph Stefancin officiating.

Visitation will be held from 10:00 A.M. until time of services Saturday, June 25, 2016 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church. Interment will be at Holy Rosary Catholic Cemetery in Medford. Pallbearers will be Willard and Eric Anderson, Robert Hoock, Shizue Teal, Wyatt and Rachael Heier.

Helyn was born in the Town of Little Black. She married Fritz Heier on August 20, 1939. Helyn and Fritz purchased a farm in the Town of Little Black on a Land Contract, starting from scratch having to purchase a dairy herd, machinery and remodel a farmhouse with no running water, electricity or insulation.

Helyn attended Holy Rosary Catholic School in Medford and graduated from Medford High School. Helyn then attended the Green Bay State Vocational School earning a degree in accounting and business.

Helyn’s career began as a receptionist/stenographer for the State Civil Service-Wefare Department later being appointed State Assistant Court Reporter and a court reporter for the various courts for Taylor County.

After thirty years, Helyn retired and became a free-lance court reporter for several Attorneys in Taylor County. She also did free-lance tax accounting.

Helyn did all this while raising seven children; her motto being “Family First”. Helyn did find time for enjoyment. She liked the challenge of a good game of bridge, playing bridge in several clubs and the bridge marathon over the years. Knitting and sewing were a necessity as well as a craft and hobby. Roses were Helyn’ favorite flower and she always had rose bushes blooming in the yard all summer. Two special places Helyn had traveled to were to the Vatican in Rome and LasV egas to see the Liberace show. She never missed the Liberace or the Lawrence Welk weekly show on TV.

After Fritz died in 1976, Helyn embarked on her second thirty-year career as Administrative Assistant and Accountant at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Medford, retiring in 2008. Since then, she had been busy hosting family get-togethers, playing cards and hunting down bargains at garage and estate sales.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in Helyn’s name to Holy Rosary Catholic School in Medford.

Hemer Funeral Homes of Medford and Rib Lake is assisting the family with arrangements. For online condolences, please visit www.hemerfuneralservice.com.