Helen C. Calmes nee Woods

Helen C. Calmes nee Woods, of Appleton, died March 11, 2022, at the age of 94. Helen met the love of her life Frank at a country dance.  Frank and Helen were married June 5, 1948, and soon after welcomed their first child Michael. They worked a small family farm on the north side of Appleton and in those early years added to their family 8-fold.  Together, Frank ran the farm, and Helen managed the household.  Always an early riser, the family knew what day of the week it was based on the meal Helen prepared for the evening.

Helen loved to read, and always had a bookmark in at least one book.  An avid Packer fan Helen and Frank had Packer tickets “when it wasn’t cool” to have them, and Helen read every one of the 100^th anniversary Packer book set.  Helen loved filling her children in on the stories she found in those books.

Helen loved her morning walks, and even as the children were growing up, could be found walking the neighborhood after getting everyone on their way. 

Time with family was always paramount for Helen.  She especially treasured the lunch excursions with her siblings.

Helen is survived by her children: Michael (Jeannie) Calmes, Frank W. (Barb) Calmes, Kathy (Dennis) Van Boxel, Linda Calmes, and Sharon (Stuart) Howard; grandchildren: Paul, Scott, Shannon, Amy, Jill, Sara, Carrie and Logan; additionally she is survived by 16 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild.  Helen’s sisters Joan Gitter, Alice VanHandel and Catherine Seidler, and sister-in-law Pat Woods as well as many nieces, nephews friends and family.

She is preceded in death by her husband Frank J., her parents Leo and Cecelia Woods, children: Patricia, Ellen, Robert, and Barbara. Helen’s siblings: Gertrude (Bernard) Bruening, Earl (Marie) Woods, Mary (Robert) Reichle, John (Rita) Woods, Agnes Woods, Peg (James) Jenkel, James Woods; and brothers-in-law: Richard Seidler, Lawrence Gitter and Richard VanHandel.

The family would like to express their appreciation to the staff at Primrose Assisted Living for their excellent care of Mom and Compassus Hospice for mindfulness and compassion in Mom’s last days.

A funeral mass for Helen will be held on Friday March 18, 2022 at 11am, at St Thomas More Church 1810 N McDonald Street, Appleton. Friends and family may gather at the church from 9am until the time of mass.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in Helen’s name.