Helen E. (Machel) Graveen

Helen Elva Graveen, 93, passed away on April 2, 2022 at Mount View Care Center, under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Service.  Angels came and took her home to Heaven where all the pain and suffering is gone.

Helen was born March 21, 1929 to the late Emil Robert Machel, Sr. and Martha Ernestine Kurth.  She grew up on a 120 acre farm in the Town of Stettin.  She attended all 8 grades at the Spooner School in the Town of Stettin, which is the Little Red School House in Marathon Park.  On May 22, 1954 she married LeRoy Graveen at Holy Name of Jesus Church, Wausau.  He preceded her in death on October 18, 1988 after a long battle with lung cancer.

As a young girl, Helen helped with the chores on the farm, picking berries for market, and milking cows.  Her first job was at Kresge Dime Store.  During war time she worked at Marathon Battery and Marathon Electric.  During this time she traveled to NYC and Colorado.  She then began a career at Memorial Hospital as a nursing assistant.  When she married worked at American Can.  Helen later became a CNA and retired from the VNA at age 70 after 20 plus years of service.   Helen worked for Aspirus Hospital and did some personal care work.  She later would volunteer for Aspirus Hospital and help with the meals on wheels program.  Her life’s work was as a caregiver for her family, friends and job.  No matter what the job would be, Helen gave her all.  She enjoyed baseball, hopscotch, and playing with dolls in her youth.  She enjoyed time with family, canning, cooking, dancing, singing, playing guitar, music, bingo, jigsaw puzzles and watching the Milwaukee Brewers.

Helen is survived by 5 children; Julie(Rich)Theisen, JoAnn(Delvin)Wurz, Lori Landrath, Alan(Jacque)Graveen, Robert Graveen;  8 grandchildren: Amanda(John)Broberg, Sarah(Michael)Marshall, Jarrod(Kerry)Wurz, Ross(Megan)Wurz, Darrin(Tiffany)Wurz, Steven(Nikki)Landrath, Nicole(Matthew Lorensen)Landrath, Kyle Landrath; 14 great grandchildren: Carter, Madison, Kennedy Broberg, Oliver, Charlotte Marshall, Arianna, River Wurz, Finley Wurz, Everly, Malachi, Noah Wurz, Tricia Lorensen, Sydney, Gage Landrath; a brother, Emil Machel, Jr., sister, Delores Bliese; 2 sister-in-law’s, Dolly Graveen and Ann Graveen, many nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by grandson, Jeremiah Furger, brother Herbert (Lucille) Zastrow, sister, Erna(Sheldon)Fry, brother-in-law Raymond Bliese, and sister-in-law, Betty Plaza.

The family would like to extend a very special thank you to the staff at Mount View Care Center, Aspirus Comfort and Care Hospice for the wonderful care, kindness, thoughtfulness they gave Helen and our family.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, April 9, 2022 at Holy Name of Jesus Parish, 1104 S. 9th Ave., Wausau.  Father Gerry Pehler and Father Samuel Martin will concelebrate the Mass.  Visitation will be at the church from 9:00a.m. until time of the Mass.  A private family burial will be in Restlawn Memorial Park.

Peterson Kraemer Funeral Home is helping the family with the arrangements.  In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Catholic Charities or the Salvation Army.