Obituary of Helen Steinke

Resident of Sullivan for over fifty years, Helen Steinke, joined her late husband, Walter, April 10, 2018. They were married for 41 years before his passing in 1983. She passed peacefully of natural causes surrounded by loving family, Helen was 98 years young. She is survived by her children, Margaret and Jerry Selber, Mary Jo Steinke, Tresa “Terri” Blank, Walter and Bonnie Steinke, Jeff and Echo Steinke, and Julie Steinke, as well as her nine grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren and her sister Bernice. The family would also like to include Helen’s “girls”, Linda, Sue, Donna, Kathy, Marie, and Gretchen. Helen touched many lives during her time on earth. The owner and operator of Helen’s Beauty Salon in Sullivan, she was the original working mother, always home to care for both her family and clients. Born in Ishpeming, Michigan in October of 1919, she was raised by Ulrich and Helen (Murphy) Vigneaux with her four siblings. In her youth Helen enjoyed skiing, swimming and cheerleading. She met Walter in Niagara, Wisconsin where they were later wed. Together they traveled both in and out of state, enjoying much of their leisure time in northern Wisconsin with family and friends. Her family has many fond memories of shared holidays, enjoying Helen’s home cooking and sassy story telling. Daughter, sister, friend, wife, mother, grandmother, Bagda, auntie Honey and GG, Helen wore many hats. She wore them all well and with pride, deservingly so. The matriarch of the Steinke family with her beautiful blue eyes, Helen watched over her clan with love and helped guide each of them to become the strong, wonderful people they are today. Her legacy will live on in each of their loving hearts, all because a young woman fell in love with a young man and they built a life together many decades ago.

Memorial services will be held at 12:00pm on Tuesday, April 17, 2018 at St. Mary's Help of Christians Catholic Church, W856 State Hwy 18, Sullivan, WI with Father Mariadas Bekala celebrating.  Burial will be in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Sullivan, WI. 

Visitation will be on Tuesday, April 17, 2018 from 10:00am until the time of the service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial may be given to Rainbow Hospice of Jefferson, WI

The Nitardy Funeral Home, Fort Atkinson, WI is assisting the family.