Helen C. Kestell Kautzer, age 104, a resident of Manitowoc since 2003, entered eternal life late Friday evening, July 5, 2019 at St. Mary’s Home in Manitowoc.
Helen was born on April 27, 1915 in the town of Rhine, Sheboygan County. She was the daughter of the late John and Elizabeth Netzer Kestell. Helen attended Holy Name Catholic School for three years in Sheboygan followed by the Dewey School in the town of Rhine through the 8th grade. She furthered her education graduating from Elkhart Lake High School with the class of 1933. Helen was employed with Kilby-Wirtz Wholesale Brokerage office for several years, then later at Salvatorian Center at St. Nazianz and New Holstein. She was married to Edward Kautzer on November 6, 1937 at St. George Catholic Church in Elkhart Lake. He preceded her in death on June 14, 2002 . Helen and her husband Edward, purchased a farm in the town of Schleswig, Manitowoc County, and remained there until their retirement in 1973. Helen was a charter member of the Sheboygan County Genealogical Society. She was an avid genealogist and published her genealogy on the internet. Helen also did volunteer work at the Research Center in Manitowoc.
Helen is survived by three children: Loanne Polster, Cleveland; Ronald (Lois) Kautzer, Malone; Robert (Jeanne) Kautzer, Clarks Mills; eight grandchildren: Deborah (Dan) Ciha, Randall (Mary) Polster, Rick (Julie) Kautzer, Vicky (Randy) Oja, Stacey (Blake) Ernst, Rob Kautzer (Char), and Karry (Aaron) Mackie, and Jeff (Jenny) Smet; 18 great grandchildren and six great great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents: John and Elizabeth Kestell, husband: Edward; two brothers, one sister, one grandson, and one son-in-law.
Memorial services will be held 11 a.m. on Saturday , July 27, 2019 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Clarks Mills. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Rev. Richard Klingeisen. Burial will take place beside her husband at St. George’s Catholic Cemetery on F and Little Elkhart Lake Road in the town of Rhine. Cremation has taken place at the Harrigan Parkside Crematory and Chapel. Relatives and friends may call at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Clarks Mills on Saturday, July 27, 2019 from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m.
Online condolences to the family may be sent to www.harriganparksidefuneralhome.com.
The Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home and Crematory, North 11th and St. Clair streets, Manitowoc, is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.
