Helen Hitt Gelhaus

1926-2023

Helen Hitt Gelhaus, 97, of Medford, passed away Thursday, June 8, 2023, in her home while under the care of her family and Hope Hospice. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, July 20 at Holy Rosary Parish in Medford with the Very Rev. Patrick McConnell officiating. Visitation from 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. A burial service will be held the following day at 1 p.m. at Clay Banks Cemetery in Door County.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her name can be made to the Catholic School of your choice.

Helen was born Feb. 1, 1926, to Henry ‘Rube’ and Ella (Moore) Hitt. She was the eighth of 11 children and grew up in Sturgeon Bay and Clay Banks. She later moved to Milwaukee, where she attended Miss Brown’s School of Business and met her spouse, Edward L. Gelhaus. They were married at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Sturgeon Bay, and later moved to Medford. They were later divorced.

Helen cared deeply for raising her family. In addition to being involved in many of her children’s activities, including as a 4H Leader in both Medford and Molitor. She enjoyed golf, bowling, bridge, canasta, spending time at the lake and returning frequently to Door County.

After ‘retirement’ Helen worked and cared for many Black River Industries clients. She was a volunteer at the Medford Public Library, Medford Area Public School reading buddy program, Indianhead Action Agency, and a member of the Holy Rosary Council of Catholic Women, Medford Hospital Auxiliary, and League of Women Voters. As a member of the American Legion Auxiliary she helped support veterans in the community. She also showed her love and concern for the less fortunate by making multiple mission trips to Guatemala in her 70’s. In her later years, you could find Helen knitting away through thousands of yards of yarn. In her natural giving spirit, shewouldoftenknitsocksorhandwarmersforhomeless veterans or gifts for her family. Helen also enjoyed traveling with her children and grandchildren.

Her family will remember her as a welcoming person, who was always ready with a quick-witted comment. She always kept her faith and her family at the forefront of everything she did. Helen instilled many of her wonderful qualities into her family, and she will be missed dearly.

Helen is survived by her children, Tom (Mary) Gelhaus, Ann (Trent) Harris, Fred (Barb) Gelhaus, Maggie (Steve) Hart and Katie (Tim) Zenner. She is additionally survived by 16 grandchildren, their spouses, and 25 great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews and her brother and sister-in-law Richard (Marge) Hitt.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents; her former spouse; her son, Dan Gelhaus; her brothers, George, Joseph, John & Chuck Hitt; and her sisters, Bernadine Andre, Margaret Nebel, Julia Doris Schmidt, Kathleen Holt-Ryan, and Mary Frome.

Cremation Society of Wisconsin is serving the family.

Paid Obituary 139257