HELEN M. HESS

Helen Mary (Heaney) Hess, age 91 of Redgranite, passed away peacefully early Friday afternoon, November 6, 2020 at Rosemore Village in Wild Rose.

Helen was born on March 19, 1929 to Truman and Gertrude (Rodencal) Heaney.  She attended Poy Sippi Grade School, and graduated from Berlin High School in 1947.  She also attended the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

Helen married Ronnie Hess, her husband of 63 years, in 1952 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Poy Sippi.  She worked from home - raising their children and sharing her gift for music by teaching piano.  When all of their children were in school, she went back to school and ultimately taught Elementary Music in the Wautoma School System.  When her mother got sick with cancer, Helen put her teaching career on hold to care for her mother.  Later, she worked at Mosier’s Sporting Goods in Redgranite until her retirement.

Helen enjoyed spending time with her family, her many dogs and birds, and taking car rides and fishing from the cottage pier on Lake Poygan with Ronnie. Everyone who knew Helen loved her “always smiling” face, her love for life, and her ever present concern for those close to her.

Survivors include children, Kevin (Ellen) Hess of Waunakee, Peggy (Dan) Frank of Omro, Mary (Delbert) Bohn of Wautoma, Paul (Jane) Hess of Edgar, and Mark (Tracy) Hess of Wautoma.  Helen is also survived by 13 grandchildren, Jennifer (Francois), Rachael, Kristina (Jesse), Kate (Mike), Amy (Charlie), LeeAnne (Noah), Jon, Justin, Kellen (Stephanie), Elita, Kaahla, Dillon, and Dominique (Dustin); and eight great-grandchildren, Giselle, Aveline, Maddy, Nora, LuElla, Kaahleb, Kaarter and Isabella.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Ronnie, a daughter, Kerry, and a grandson, Stephen.

Funeral services for Helen will be held Saturday, November 14, at St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Redgranite, where a mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m., with visitation from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.  Due to current health situations, masks and social distancing are required of all attendees.  Following the services, there will be a private burial service for the family at St. Mark’s Parish Cemetery.

The Ruminski Funeral Home of Redgranite is assisting the Hess Family with arrangements.

A special thank you to all of the staff at Rosemore Village and Agnesian Hospice for the wonderful care they provided to Helen during her stay. In so many ways, they became a part of her family.