Helena D. Richards Gander
June 16, 1918 - August 23, 2014
Obituary
Gander, Helena D. Richards
DANE-Helena D. Richards Gander, age 96, loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and devoted friend, passed away at her home, in Dane, on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014. She was born on June 16, 1918, near Brillion, the daughter of the late Orvin and Sophie (Stanelle) Kreiman. Helena moved to Dane and married Claude Richards in 1941. They had five children, Claude Jr., Lloyd, Floyd, Carol and Claudette. Claude passed away from a heart attack in 1953. She later married Hubert Gander in 1955, who passed away in 1995 at the Maplewood nursing home in Sauk City, after a long illness. After working for several years at Madison Methodist Hospital, she had many cleaning jobs in various homes and businesses. Helena worked as a nursing assistant at a nursing home in Lodi for Ruby Thompson until it closed, and then continued at Lodi Good Samaritan nursing home for over 20 years. In 1990, at the age of 72, she retired to spend more time with her husband, Hubert, whose health was declining. The two of them had been caretakers of the Dane Immanuel Cemetery for over 15 years. Helena enjoyed genealogy, writing her life story, yard sales and bible study. But mostly she enjoyed and valued any time she could spend with her family. Helena is survived by three children, Claude (Alice) Richards Jr., Carol Fuller and Claudette (Jim) Richards; five grandchildren, Jason (Tammy) Richards, Rebecca (Josef) O’Donnell, Timothy Fuller, Steven Fuller and David Fuller; four great-grandchildren, Jessica Puchrun, Vincent Richards, Samantha O’Donnell and Kelsey Richards; five sisters, Verna Stedl, Margaret Kroening, Clara Breisch, Gertrude Jagodinsky, Gladys Mazanec and a brother, Alvin (Joyce) Kreiman; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. In addition to her parents, Helena was preceded in death by her husbands, Claude Richards Sr. and Hubert Gander; two sons, Floyd and Lloyd Richards; a son-in-law, Donald Fuller; a sister, Minnie Kreiman; a brother, Albert Kreiman; five brothers-in-law, Frank Stedl, Harlan Kroening, Carl Breisch, Joseph Jagodinsky and Joseph Mazanec; and all of her husbands’ siblings and their spouses. Funeral services will be held at DANE IMMANUEL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, 300 N. Military Rd., Dane, at Noon, on Friday, Aug. 29, 2014. Burial will take place at Dane Immanuel Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Friday. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Hamre Gunderson
Funeral & Cremation Care
157 S. Main Street
(608)592-3201
Events
Visitation
Fri Aug 29, 2014 @ 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM CDT
Dane Immanuel United Church of Christ • 300 North Military Rd, Dane, WI 53529
Service
Fri Aug 29, 2014 @ 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CDT
Dane Immanuel United Church of Christ • 300 North Military Rd, Dane, WI 53529
Photos
No photos of Helena have been shared yet.
Memories
WC
Wenda Cichucki
Other •
Claudette and Jim and family: We are thinking of you and praying for courage and strength during this said time. Your Mom was a wonderful person and my Mom talked of her with love and affection. She will be missed by all. Our deepest sympathy, Wenda and Larry Cichucki (Mabel Feistel's daughter from Milwaukee, we played cards together at Camp Forest).
KK
Kathy Kolbe
Other •
Claudette and Jim, and to your whole family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you as you deal with the loss of your Mother. Helena was very special to our Mom. I know they had lots of good times together. I personally remember the time you, Claudette, and your Mom stayed with us when your car broke down. I remember how you both came down to meet the day care kiddos in the morning. Also, the time you came to visit Mom when she was with us, and had lunch with her. It's hard to watch their generation leave us. I for one know I will never be able to fill their shoes. They all were extraordinary individuals.
With sincere sympathy, Kathy and Jim Kolbe, Penny's daughter
KD
kristine dreger
Other •
Claude and Alice. We are so sorry of your loss , our deepest sympathy to you all, we are thinking of you , From the dregers bob, kris, Amanda and verna goold and Kyle,
CO
Carol Olsen
Other •
Claudette and Jim--we are so sorry. You gave her everything the last few years. She was an especially sweet and loving mother. Carol and Bob
D
Doug
Other •
Sorry for your loss, we pray for grace and peace for all who grieve….
ML
Ms. Leslie
Other •
My condolences to the Gander family, you have my sympathy for the lost of your dear loved one. There will come a time when all the things that causes us to suffer will be a thing of the past. (Isaiah 33:24 ; Revelation 21:3,4) And then those who have died will have a glorious future to look forward too. (John 5:28,29 ; 11:25,26) For more comforting thoughts go to jw.org.com official website.