Full Obituary

HELEN B. PAPIERNIAK, age 92, of Thorp, passed away on Friday, September 18, 2015 at her home. Funeral services will be held at 10:30am on Wednesday, September 23, 2015 at St. Bernard-St. Hedwig's Catholic Church in Thorp. Rev. Janusz Kowalski will officiate and burial will follow at Old St. Hedwig's Catholic Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Jason Ostby, Josh Ostby, Alex Jacobs, Jared Jankoski, Luke Papierniak and Adam Papierniak. Helen's granddaughters will serve as honorary pallbearers: Julie Marvin, Jesseka Wink, Kristin Wyatt, Amber Byce, Jill Jankoski, Dr. Megan Shepard and Nicole Papierniak. Visitation will be held at the church, on Wednesday, from 9:30am until time of service.
Helen Barbara Wolowik was born on August 23, 1923 in the Town of Reseburg, rural Thorp, to Anton and Mary (Sadowski) Wolowik. She attended Oakland Grade School, Thorp High School and Miss Brown's Girl School in Milwaukee. During WWII, she worked at Nesco War Plant as a secretary and bookkeeper. Later, in 1943, Helen went to San Diego, CA, where she met and married Lt. Robert Okon, who was in the U.S. Navy, and a daughter, Gail, was born to them. Robert's plane was shot down over Malaysia. Coming back to Thorp, she married Theodore "Ted" Papierniak on February 15, 1947. Helen was a certified nursing assistant working at Victory Memorial Hospital, in Stanley, and later doing home care with the Clark County Home Care Agency. She kept busy and involved with her children's interests, ie. Boy Scouts, 4-H and was actively involved in her church circle. After retiring from home health care, she had a antique shop as a hobby. She loved collecting antiques and spending the holiday's with her family. Helen also enjoyed golf, bowling, snowmobiling and quilting.
She is survived by her children: Gail (Dave) Mueller of Tallahassee, FL, Jerilyn (Robert) Jacobs of Hudson, Jon (Kerry) Papierniak of Thorp, Jeffrey (Barb) Papierniak of Underwood, IA, Brian Papierniak of Thorp; 13 grandchildren: Jason (Wendy) Ostby, Julie (Joel) Marvin, Joshua (Sarah) Ostby, Jesseka (Troy) Wink, Alex Jacobs, Luke Papierniak, Adam Papierniak, Dr. Megan (Chris) Shepard, Nicole Papierniak, Jared Jankoski, Jill Jankoski, Kristin (Jason) Wyatt and Amber (Neil) Byce. Also surviving are two special daughters: Sharon (Mike) Brennan and Renee (John) Pawlak; 22 great-grandchildren: Brittanie Robertson, Ivy, Brooklyn, Evan and Morgan Ostby, Gabriel, Braden, Jagger and Emmi Marvin, Tysen and Jamesen Wink, Cullen and Leighton Wyatt, Sawyer and Landry Byce, Maia and Peyton Papierniak, Jon and Hana Papierniak, Will Jankoski, Rosalee and Eden Gustafson; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ted, on September 28, 2006; her parents; and brothers: William, Walter, Steve and Edward; and sisters: Mary, Frances and Harriet.