Helen was preceded in death by her parents, the love of her life Ben Schaper and her son Dr. Mark Schaper. She is survived by her daughter Kristie Link and stepson Steve Schaper; brothers Curtis Tieken and wife Gay, Carl Tieken and wife JoBeth, brother and sister-in-law Hilmer and Betty Merz, grandchildren Nick, Julia, Ben, Luke, and Michael; and many nieces and nephews.
Helen enjoyed traveling with her soulmate and husband Ben and their children. She was also an avid gardener and loved landscaping God’s beauty in plants and flowers. On May 19, 1990, Helen devoted her life to Jesus and developed a passion for teaching children. She spent 10 years driving a school bus for Northside ISD. She spent several years at Leon Springs Elementary volunteering to teach children how to read and at one point sold her possessions and moved to Uganda, Africa to establish her own ministry to the children she loved so much.
For 32 years she taught children about the love of Jesus through her church and the Christian School at Castle Hills. Through her ministry she touched the lives of thousands of kids. She served faithfully in Vacation Bible School, Mother’s Day Out, Daycare, and school chapels. Her favorite ministry to children was leading the Preschool on Sunday mornings in “Joy to Praise”, where she would bring scripture to life in their hearts by reenacting Bible stories with them.
A memorial and celebration of life will be held on July 30, 2022 at 10:30 am at Mission City Church, 2220 NW Military Hwy. In lieu of flowers and in remembrance of Helen’s life, the family requests those who wish to express sympathy consider donating to her favorite charity Samaritans Purse.
