Helen Ann Engel

Helen Ann (Hinze) Engel, age 89, passed away peacefully and went straight into the arms of her Savior Jesus Christ on September 2, 2025, with her loving family by her side. Helen was born March 4th, 1936, in Sheboygan, WI to Reuben & Ruth Hinze of Sheboygan, WI.

Her childhood memories of time spent with her Hinze/Ringer family on Henry Street were some of her favorites. During high school, Helen worked at the family Hinze Ice Cream Stand and at (her Uncle Harvey) Hinze’s Ice Cream Store, both in Sheboygan, and then worked at H.C. Prange Grocery store as a grocery checker. What was remarkable about Helen’s work ethic and character was when she worked at her Uncle Harvey’s ice cream store, she was responsible for closing the store. If closing went late and Helen would miss the last bus, she walked the entire distance (3-4 miles in the dark) without complaining from Michigan Avenue to Henry Street, through the industrial district, as a teenager. This displayed her amazing fortitude, dedication to her work, her love of family and defined her character that was evident throughout her lifetime.

After graduating in 1954 from Central High School in Sheboygan, Helen moved to Milwaukee, WI to attend the Wisconsin State College-Milwaukee (later becoming UW Milwaukee) and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from UWM in 1958 (as a member of one of the first graduating classes of the newly formed UWM) with a degree in Elementary Education. Helen loved children and was loved by children. She taught kindergarten at Forest Home Avenue in Milwaukee until her temporary retirement to get married and have the first of her six children. In her teaching career, Helen also taught at St. Bernadette and Gilbert Stuart schools. Helen was a full time homemaker and mother raising six children and later on returning full time, teaching 4th grade at St. Stephen’s Catholic School in Milwaukee until her retirement in 1996.

Helen met the love of her life, Allen, in a high school Spanish class but the feeling wasn’t mutual, yet. Years later they were reacquainted and this time Helen caught Allen’s eye AND his heart. Allen thought Helen was beautiful and wonderful and that he would be happy to spend the rest of his life with her. They were united in marriage on November 29, 1958 in Sheboygan, WI and were married nearly 67 years. They began their married life renting a duplex on Buffum Street in Milwaukee. Later they moved to West Lawn, an income-based public housing community that was a magnificent gift from the city of Milwaukee to help people who were just getting settled in life. There they met neighbors who became lifelong friends. When Allen got a job with Milwaukee Public Schools, they bought the duplex on Buffum Street as rental property and settled into their own home on N. 63rd St in Milwaukee where they lived for nearly 58 years. In their twilight years, they enjoyed living around the country in Beaver Dam, WI; Lenexa, KS; Lake City, MN; and Atlanta, GA with their respective children and spouses and families.

Helen and Allen were active in the Democratic Party serving as the 5th Congressional District Treasurer and Chair, respectively. Helen was instrumental in running the Democratic Diner at the Wisconsin State Fair for a number of years. She was a supervising manager in Milwaukee for the US Census in 1980. She was also co-creator/owner of Moon Blooms, the brainchild of Allen, selling their wares at state fairs in the Midwest. Helen enjoyed a lifetime of raising her family cooking, sewing, cross stitching, knitting and crocheting many, many items as gifts for others and winning blue ribbons at the Wisconsin State Fair for her crafts. Christmas was a special time Helen enjoyed with homemade Christmas ornaments and cookie decorating, a favorite tradition that has been passed down to her youngest grandchildren. Helen collected angels and loved to display them around their home. She enjoyed playing the piano and the organ for her family and was organist for Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Milwaukee for 25 years. She later sang in her church choir and was a member of the handbell choir when it merged with several parishes to create Blessed Savior Catholic Church.

Helen had a special knack at winning WTMJ and other radio stations’ prize packages, one of which was a family night skiing at Alpine Valley, to add to the family’s love of ski trips. She packed a mean cooler that the family eagerly consumed in the parking lot of Little Switzerland on many a Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Her culinary skills were highlighted with her International Cuisine Dinners that are fondly remembered by friends. She was a lifelong learner and embraced the internet wholeheartedly, early on, enrolling in a number of computer classes. One of Helen’s most enjoyable passions was compiling information about her family tree and genealogy. She also thoroughly enjoyed doing crossword puzzles and jigsaw puzzles for which she was famous. In her retirement, Helen enjoyed traveling during winter to the southeastern part of the US with Allen. They enjoyed years of adventure including a passion for golfing at home and while traveling. They thoroughly enjoyed watching their adult children get married and raise families of their own.

Helen was proud of her children, grands and greats and would gladly share of their accomplishments to anyone within earshot. They had the best of friends with whom they enjoyed life to the fullest! Hinze family reunions was something Helen treasured. And she formed a long-lasting friendship with Allen’s cousin, Gary Schultz and his wife Carolyn and their beautiful family making his family her own. But the sun rose and set with her beloved Allen. They made their marriage a priority with weekly date nights and, in retirement, weekly date Tuesdays. They held hands often and enjoyed what Helen called a “long kiss” from Allen. You could say she lived a charmed life in spite of the inevitable hardships and heartaches of life. The last nine months of her life were challenging marked by at least seven major medical events including a declining memory. But Helen faced it with grace, spunk and a sense of humor. Her agreeable “go-with-the-flow” attitude helped put everyone at ease. What caught everyone off guard was the sudden, unexpected diagnosis of metastatic cancer with complications that she ultimately succumbed to in less than 24 hours after diagnosis. She will be so missed. But knowing she is safely home in the loving arms of her Savior reunited with her parents, sister and youngest son, Jimmy, we can tearfully say our sadness is her eternal joy. Helen had a quiet faith that was more lived out than preached. She lived a life of selfless love often putting everyone else’s needs before her own. She didn’t need much—just the love of her husband, a phone call or visit from her children, laughter with friends and family, a dose of affection from children, a piece of dark chocolate and a brandy old fashioned every once in a while.

Helen is survived by her husband, Allen, and their children Sara (Ron) Koller, Lake City, MN; John Engel, Pewaukee, WI; Mary (Scott) Helt, Lenexa, KS; Beth (Ron) Wilkie, Beaver Dam, WI; and Joe (Phuong) Engel, Atlanta, GA. and the late Jimmy Engel. She is also survived by her brother, David (Karen) Hinze, Sheboygan, WI as well as many cherished cousins, nieces, nephews, godchildren and friends. Grandma Engel will be missed by her grandchildren and great grandchildren Calin (Abby) Koller with Hadley and Kye; Riley (Taylor Lerum) Koller with Jaxton, Raya, and Mila; Allie (Will) Spears with Georgia and Jack; Taylor (Jake) Griebenow with Sutton, Trigg, and Tallis; Abby Helt; Madison (partner Geoff Owens); Nate (Cameron) Engel, Anna Herzler,  Hannah (fiancé Matt Schlichter) Engel; Amy (Nick) Kalny; John Herzler,  James, Zachary and Jack Engel. Helen was preceded in death by her parents, Reuben and Ruth Hinze; in laws, Irvin and Pearl Engel; sister and brother-in law, Joan and George Sutton; a host of loving friends and relatives; and her youngest Angel son, Jim/Jimmy.

Funeral services will be held at Blessed Savior Catholic Church, 8607 W. Villard Avenue, Milwaukee, WI on Tuesday, September 16, 2025 with Visitation at 9:30 am, Funeral Mass at 11 am and Final Prayers at Holy Cross Cemetery to immediately follow Mass. The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Charleston House (Beaver Dam, WI), Randolph Health Services (Randolph, WI), and Froedtert West Bend Hospital/St. Joseph for their loving and compassionate care in the final months, days and hours of Helen’s beautiful life. For those who wish to honor Helen's memory, memorial contributions can be made to Blessed Savior Catholic Church or a charity of their choice. Until we meet again, yo te amo!

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