TRAVERSE City — Helen K. Matheson, 90, of Traverse City, passed away Monday, Sept. 28, 2015 at Munson Hospice House. Helen was born on Sept. 13, 1925 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, to the late William and Marion (Van Ourkerk) Kaufmann.
She married the late Martin "Red" Matheson on Aug. 27, 1949, also in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. She and Red began their life together in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, moved to Chicago, Illinois, in 1951 and to Harvard, Illinois, in 1973. In 1981 she returned to Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
Helen graduated from MacMurray College for Women in Jacksonville, Illinois, majoring in art history. She shared her love of art in many creative projects throughout the family home.
Being a mother and homemaker was Helen's focus while her children were growing up.
While in Harvard, Illinois, she became interested in floral design, took several classes and began working at a local florist shop. In 1995 she retired from the Curt Joa Company in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, where she had been a secretary for 15 years, and moved to Traverse City to be close to family.
In her spare time she enjoyed reading, taking photographs of family events, keeping family photo albums current, making intricate beaded Christmas ornaments for family members and knitting.
Surviving Helen are her children, Susan M. (Jude) Younker, of Traverse City, Amy (Jim) Stewart, of Joliet, Illinois, Kathryn (Jim) Wyatt, of Good Hope, Illinois, M. Peter (Donna) Matheson, of Yakima, Washington, and Elizabeth (Norman) Gustafson, of Roanoke, Texas; grandchildren, Megan Younker, Jim Stewart, Bill (Staci) Stewart, Curtis Stewart, Elizabeth (Tony) Vardiman, Joseph Matheson, William Matheson, Christopher (Stefani) Branham, Connor (Allison) Branham, Miriam Gustafson and Caleb Gustafson; great-grandchildren, Lila, Elle and Liam Stewart, Charlotte Branham, Sierra and Sydney Vardiman; brother, William O. Kaufmann; and many other loving family members and friends.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Red; and her sister, Nancy Garton.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m., with a visitation held one hour prior, on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Interment will take place at the Wildwood Cemetery in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Munson Hospice, St. Jude Children's Hospital or charities that provide meals for children.
Kindly share thoughts and memories of Helen at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com for the family to cherish forever.
The family is being cared for by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.