Helen Jean Oelke

Helen Jean Oelke, age 86, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 1, 2018, at St. Francis Home. She was born on February 3, 1931, in Fond du Lac, the daughter of Ervin and Nellie (Henning) Yanke. Helen lived in Fond du Lac her entire life. She met and married the love of her life, Raymond W. Oelke on December 2, 1950.



Helen was a 1949 graduate of Fond du Lac High School. She worked as a waitress at the Beer Hut in her younger years. She was also employed as a waitress at Bernward Hall and Capelle’s Restaurant for several years. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. Her favorite good-bye words were “God Bless You”. In her later years, she spent time at Agnesian’s Adult Daycare (twenty plus years), where she enjoyed spending time with the staff and the friends she met.



Helen is survived by her children, Gary (Patricia) Oelke, Jean (Stephen) Diedrich, James (special friend Lisa Kortbein) Oelke; her grandchildren, Amy (Mike) Howarth, Joseph (special friend Lauren Atonio) Diedrich; her great-grandchildren, Brynn and Brady Peacock; her nephew, Dennis Huebschman of Albuquerque, NM; her niece, Sue Ann (Kurt) Wetzel of Lakewood, CO; her great-nephew/niece, Weston and Wendy Wetzel of Lakewood, CO; her lifelong friend, Marian Wohler; Helen has an extensive family through marriage (Oelke Family), brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews that have passed on and many still with us that always treated Helen with respect and kindness through the years.



Helen is preceded in death by her parents, Ervin and Nellie Yanke; her sister, Donna Mae Huebschman; her former husband, Raymond Oelke; her brother-in-law, Clarence Huebschman; her special friends, Betty Mielke, Rita Dietrich, and John Oleson; also many relatives and friends of the Yanke and Oelke family.



At Helen’s request there will be no visitation or service. Cremation has taken place.



Helen’s family would like to send out a special thank you to the CNA’s, nurses, and staff at St. Francis Home for all the care and compassion they have given to mom. Also they would like to thank the Sisters of St. Agnes for all the kindness and thoughtfulness they gave mom. As mom would say, “God Bless You”.