Helen Naydene Kowalke

Helen Naydene Kowalke, age 96, of Lincoln, passed away on Sunday, January 1, 2023. Helen was born December 29,1926 to Albert and Mary Alice Nichols. Helen was preceded in death by her loving husband of over 40 years, Roger Kowalke. She is survived by her loving children, Gary (Jean) Booth, Bill J. Booth, Deanne Katzmann; grandchildren, Julie Booth, Alisa Booth, Sarah (Joe) Gross, Kristy Katzmann, Kelly Katzmann; great-grandchildren, Hunter Hames, Noah Cutright, Ella Gross, Jacob Cutright, Helena Calvillo, Estelle Calvillo; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Helen was a strong and hard-working woman who grew up on a farm in Raymond, Nebraska where she loved to ride her bike and horses and spend time with friends when she wasn't completing her chores around the farm. She attended a one room schoolhouse near the farm through 8th grade then went on to graduate from the local high school.

After graduation, Helen moved to the big city of Lincoln where she worked for the Department of Agriculture at the Capitol Building and picked up a second job at a local drugstore to earn extra money for her apartment and support her love of fashion and clothing. She went on to marry and have three children (Gary, Bill and Deanne). She gracefully managed raising three children and working full-time as an office manager in stocks and commodities until her retirement in the early '90s.

In retirement, Helen enjoyed many hobbies including gardening, traveling with her husband, Roger, hosting family for the holidays, entertaining friends at her home, antiquing, canning and even trying her hand at wine-making.

Her family and friends remember her for her strength, hard work, sense of humor, baking stacks of cookies for family visits, slipping "fun money" in grandkids' pockets and a smile to light up any room.

Visitation will be 1 hour prior to the service. A celebration of life for Helen will be 2:00 pm Monday, January 9, 2023 at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home, 6800 S 14th St., Lincoln, Nebraska 68512. For more information go to www.lincolnfh.com