Beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, Helen was born on June 5, 1922 to Rosco and Edith May Henney, on the family farm near Flat Rock, Ohio, where she grew up with her three brothers and two sisters. She attended school at Thompson Community Schools, graduating from high school in 1940.
Helen met her future husband, Elmer Merkle when he came to Flat Rock to work on the farm at the Children’s Orphanage located there. They were married on April 23, 1948, and moved to St. Paul in June of that year. Helen worked at Montgomery Ward until having their first child, Kevin in 1951, when she became a stay-at-home mom. Curtis was born 3 years later.
In addition to being a wonderful mother and homemaker, Helen assisted Elmer in the maintenance of several apartment buildings they owned and would work one day a week, assisting Elmer in the Laundry and Dry Cleaning business that they owned.
Helen’s passions were her church, family, gardening and her neighbors. She was active in Church from her childhood until she could no longer attend (due to health reasons) in her mid-90’s. She served on various committees, was active in the Women’s Ministry and taught Sunday School. She was able to put together her passion of gardening with her Church work as she was responsible for the altar flowers and arrangements for many years at Path of Grace United Methodist Church in Maplewood (formerly Arlington Hills United Methodist Church). She continued in that capacity until she could no longer attend church.
Family was of upmost importance to her. She loved spending time with her grandchildren (especially at the lake) and always looked forward to the Merkle Family Reunion. She made great friends and developed lasting relationships with many neighbors, fellow church members and residents at Lakeview Commons. While never a big sports fan she learned to adjust and cheer on the boys in their high school and college athletic endeavors and became a Twins fan – to the extent of asking Elmer “how the Twins did last night” and attending games with him.
After Elmer passed away in 1999, Helen surprised everyone, by learning how to drive (on her own); obtaining her driver’s license, at the age of 77, continuing to drive into her 90’s. In 2015, after developing dementia, and no longer able to take care of herself safely, she moved into Assisted Living.
Helen was preceded in death by her husband Elmer; brothers Merlin, Harold and Don; and sisters Edith and Gertude.
She is survived by her two sons, Kevin (Candy) Merkle, of Northfield and Curtis (Kathie) Merkle of Maplewood; granddaughters Breanna (Erik) Bares of Shamong, New Jersey; Lauren Vosejpka of Northfield; grandsons Brett (Suz) Merkle of St. Paul; Josh Merkle of Watertown; and Jake (Gretchen) Merkle of Lake Elmo; great grandchildren Quinn and Emma Merkle; Tucker and Cam Kallaus; Raegan Bares; Carter and Madison Vosejpka; Elina, Brynley and Harper Merkle.
Helen led a great, God-blessed life, impacting many others with her kindness, friendliness, helpfulness, service, and strong Christian faith.
A special thanks to the many staff members at Lakeview Commons for their wonderful care of Helen for the past nine years. In lieu of flowers, memorials should be directed to Path of Grace United Methodist Church.
Services will be held on Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at Path of Grace United Methodist Church, 759 County Rd. B. E. St. Paul, MN 55117. Visitation from 10:00am - 11:00am, with a service to follow at 11:00am. Burial at Sunset Kapala Glodek Funeral Home & Sunset Cemetery, 2250 St. Anthony Blvd. Minneapolis, MN 55418, at 2:00pm.
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