Helen Pratzer (1931 – 2010)

Helen Frances Pratzer, age 79, formerly of Kenosha, late of McFarland, died Saturday, October 16th, 2010 at her McFarland home, in peace and with grace, surrounded with love and with her family.

Born on October 4, 1931, in Kenosha, she was the daughter of Adella (Zivotkowskas) and Peter Saltmeris. Throughout her school age years during the Great Depression Helen proudly worked at her father’s store, Pete’s Groceries. Later, she also worked along with her parents at Pete’s Bar, where she met Ellsworth Pratzer. On June 11, 1952 Helen and Ellsworth married. Together, they celebrated 58 years of marriage and more than 30 years of joyous retirement.

Helen was an alumni of the University of Wisconsin – Madison, the Normal School, Normal, Illinois, and Carthage College, Kenosha, WI. She was an elemetary school teacher for many years for the Kenosha Public School System and St. Thomas Catholic School. Helen was a member of St. Peter Catholic Church, Kenosha, and Christ the King Catholic Church, McFarland. She was politically active and a passionate supporter of our American rights. She enjoyed travel and cruised extensively throughout the world. She shared many family times and memories at her cottage on Legend Lake, in northern Wisconsin. However, her greatest joy was that of time spent with her family. She was a breast cancer survivor of 13 years, yet died of a different, recently diagnosed cancer.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents and her loving husband, Ellsworth, less than 3 months ago. She is survived by her daughter Heidi Norwick of McFarland, WI, two granddaughters, Katie (Nick) Caputi of Chicago, IL and Sadie Norwick of Chicago, IL. She is further survived by Joe Norwick of Flossmoor, IL.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Thursday, October 21, 2010 at St. Peter Catholic Church (2224 30th Avenue) at 12:30 PM. Visitation with the family will be held at the church from 12:00 until the time of mass. Entombment will follow at All Saints Catholic Cemetery.

Memorials would be appreciated to the University of Wisconsin Hospital, Hematology and Oncology Unit, B6/6, or to Hospice Care.