Viola Helt

DANE/WAUNAKEE – Viola E. (Michels) Helt, age 90, passed away on Saturday, October 8, 2022, at Waunakee Manor in Waunakee. Viola was born on June 20, 1932, in Marxville to John and Mary (Kelter) Michels. Viola was united in marriage to John H. Helt on May 2, 1953, at St. Martin’s Catholic Church.

She was parish secretary, a member of the Council of Catholic Women and taught religious education at St. Martin’s Catholic Church. She also worked in the Deli at Piggly Wiggly in Waunakee.

Viola loved to watch the Brewers and Packers. She was very crafty and knitted caps for newborns, made mittens for RSVP and many dish rags for family members and close friends. She also loved to crochet and do counted cross stitch and was an excellent seamstress. In her earlier years she decorated wedding cakes, being proud of doing all her kids wedding cakes. Every Christmas you could count on her making peppernuts and fruit cake for her family. On her 90th birthday she celebrated at the family farm with her family.

Survivors include her children John (Sharon, children Christine (Don) Newton, Mike (Mary) and Joe (Heidi)), David (Debra, children Judy (Jon), great granddaughter Elizabeth, David (Lindsey), great grandson Evan and great granddaughter Anna, Jeff (Sammy)), James (Linda, and son Eric), Mary Falkenstein (Dennis, children Heather and Ben (Monica) and great granddaughters Oliva and Cora), Karen, Alan (Laurie, children Miranda (Spencer) Gustafson and Darrin (fiancée Steph)), Lois Henn (Paul, children Jessica and Stephanie (Lucas and Lilah).  She is further survived by sister-in-laws Fran Michels-Beuthin, Rosalie Michels, Dorothy Voegeli and Marlene Helt, and brother-in laws Tony (Joan) Helt and William (Virginia) Helt.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband John, a son Joseph, grandson Dusty Helt, brothers Joe and Norbert and sisters Regina Ripp and Laura Felsheim and several brother and sister-in-laws.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, Oct, 14, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at St John’s Catholic Church 209 South St., Waunakee. Friends may call at the church on Friday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of services. Burial will take place at St Peter’s Cemetery in Ashton. The Mass will be livestreamed at STJB.org .

The family wishes to give thanks to Agrace Hospice and Waunakee Manor staff for all of their excellent care and compassion.

Winn-Cress Funeral Home

5785 Hwy Q

Waunakee, WI