Helen Irene (Klopfenstein) Gudeman
Helen Irene (Klopfenstein) Gudeman, 88, of Monticello, formerly of Medaryville, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, Sept. 24. She passed away at home surrounded by her family.
Helen was born on Oct. 16, 1932, in Mishawaka, to the late Gary and Clara (Laidig) Klopfenstein Sr. She graduated from Mishawaka High School in 1950. On March 30, 1952, Helen married the love her life, Dean A. Gudeman, in Bremen.
She went from being a city girl to marrying a farmer and enjoying country life. Helen was a homemaker, establishing with her husband, a loving home with four children. They were married 67 years before Dean passed away on January 20, 2020.
Helen loved her Lord and Savior. She faithfully attended church with her family. She was a lifelong member of the First Baptist Church in Francesville and was currently attending Zion Bethel Church in Monticello.
Helen was a talented artist with an amazing passion for drawing, painting, and calligraphy. For many years, she was a professional cake decorator. Helen enjoyed keeping active with aquasize and being involved with home-ec clubs through the years.
Helen was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She will be sadly missed by those who knew and loved her.
She is survived by her daughter Susan [Jeff] Braun of Monticello; son Gary [Doreen] Gudeman of Medaryville; granddaughters: Andrea [Casey] McVicker, Alyssa [Dan] Kreitl, Lindsey [Joshua] Jay, Lauren [Evan] Haupert, Marissa [Cameron] Smith, and Sidney Stelly; grandsons: Jared [Loren] Gudeman, Nathan [Amy] Braun, Philip Gudeman, Jonathan Gudeman, and Ben [Laura] Stelly; sisters: Mary Wright Schlatter of Toledo, Ohio and Kathleen Skeeters of Mishawaka; sisters-in-law: Judy Klopfenstein of Elgin, Illinois, Judy Gudeman of Monticello, Kathleen Schrock of Tyler, Texas, and Jean Gudeman of Tucson, Arizona; 19 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents: Gary and Clara (Laidig) Klopfenstein Sr.; her husband Dean A. Gudeman; son Steven R. Gudeman; daughter Karen I. Gudeman; brothers: Robert [Marie] Klopfenstein, Gary [Rose Marie] Klopfenstein Jr., Eugene [Alice] Klopfenstein, and Richard Klopfenstein; sisters: Elouise [Fred] Flagle and Jo Ann [Bob] Conrad; brothers-in-law: Frank Wright, Herman Schlatter, Jack Skeeters, Bill Schrock, and Stanley Gudeman.
Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 29 at Frain Mortuary Querry-Ulbricht Chapel in Francesville.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 30 at Frain Mortuary Querry-Ulbricht Chapel in Francesville with Pastors Dennis Gutwein and Nathan Braun officiating.
Burial will take place at Roseland Cemetery in Francesville.
Memorial contributions may be made to Gideon’s International or Baptist Children’s Home.
Online tributes may be offered at www.frainmortuary.com.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Frain Mortuary Querry-Ulbricht Chapel in Francesville.
(Pulaski County Journal — Sept. 29, 2021)