Obituary: Helen Gutowsky, 95, Irons.

Helen Gutowski

Helen Bernadette Gutowsky, 95 of Irons passed away on Sunday, February 28, 2016 on her birthday, and was welcomed into heaven by her beloved husband Frank “Spud” Gutowsky.

After having a big party in her honor at the Newaygo Medical Care Facility with her relatives, family, friends, and even “Charlie” the miniature therapy horse in attendance to celebrate a wonderful mom, grandma, great-grandma, aunt, and friend on her 95^th birthday, Helen was so happy to see everyone and waited until they all left except for her daughter Cindy sitting by her side, when she quietly slipped away.

Helen was born in Irons on the family farm in 1921 to John and Nellie Long, and lived most of her life on her beloved Little Manistee River in Irons.  She was famous for her homemade apple pies, apple pancakes, and Kugli.  She loved the Detroit Tigers, playing Bingo, watching birds at her home, and being in the presence of her family.  Helen will be remembered for the way she lived everyday to the fullest, and the great pleasure she took in the small things in life.  She serves as a wonderful role model for her children and grandchildren and a great influence on all who were lucky enough to know her.  She was our hero and the anchor of our family.  We will all miss her greatly – the twinkle in her eyes, her infectious laugh and her funny stories.   She loved us all dearly and made each one of us feel so special.  Mom you will be missed so much and we all thank you for sharing yourself with us for so long.  We will keep your memories close so you will always be with us.

We would like to thank the wonderful care and compassion of the Newaygo Medical Care Facility Staff and the awesome care she received from Deb Swanson, her home nurse from Ludington.  We also want to thank her special niece Darlene Thomas who was always there in good times and bad times.

Helen will be lovingly remembered by her daughters Crystal Forster of St. Louis, Missouri, and Cindy (Ed) Folkertsma of Croton Dam; her beloved grandchildren Todd Forster, Kelly (Skip) Forster Krysl, Bill (Carolyn) Forster, Cindy Soest, Terry Forster, Eddie Folkertsma, and Kendra (Rob) Dodge; her precious great-grandchildren Brandon and Trenton Forster, Austin and Nicole Soest, and Emersyn and Dawson Dodge; her sisters-in-law Vicki Kasper of Irons, Fran Scofield of California, Jayne Roti of St. Joseph, and Nessa Long of Fountain; and many nieces and nephews.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Frank, her sisters Julia Gutowsky, Mary Stovall, Anne Miller, and Theresa Urbain; and her brothers Edward and Vincent Long.

The Mass of the Resurrection will be held for Helen at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 8 at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Irons with The Rev. Dennis O’Donnell presiding.  Burial will take place at Lakeview Cemetery in Irons at a later date.  Friends may meet with her family for a time of visitationon Monday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at the church, where the Rosary will be prayed for Helen at 7 p.m.  Those who wish to remember Helen with a memorial contribution are asked to consider St. Bernard Catholic Church, or Little Mary’s Hospitality House in Wellston.

Please visit Helen’s personal memory page at www.wymanfuneralservice.com to leave a tribute of Helen for her family, or to light a candle in her memory.