Helen Rose Wilber
Helen Rose Wilber, a kind and compassionate servant of God, died peacefully January 19, 2024 at the age of 72. Helen’s parents, Jerome and Rose (Schohl) Beachnau, welcomed her into the world on June 9, 1951 in Lansing, MI. Growing up with four siblings, Helen learned how to care for others and throughout her life she lent a listening ear and offered a helping hand to many people. Music was important to Helen. In her younger years she loved playing the guitar and singing, even recording a song with her dear friend, Ed Swanson. Open hearted and caring, Helen was always focused on helping others. She loved baking bread, and was a baker at Mike’s Shop-Rite, and also worked at Goff’s in St. Johns and Gormans in Lansing. In addition to her family, some of the things that gave Helen joy were reading (enjoying romance novels and many of the “Chicken Soup” books), collecting elephants and penguin figurines, and watching the New York Yankees play baseball.
Helen is survived by her children, Tammy (Gary) Robert, Barb (Calvin) Funsch, Phillip (Lori) Monroe, Amy Bates, Candy (Joe Axel) Stallcup, Charlie (Heather) Wilber, and Daryan Wilber; 19 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; and sister-in-law, Kathy Beachnau. She was predeceased by her husband, Michael; son, Michael Wilber II; brothers, Harold Beachnau, Frank (Jane) Beachnau; sisters, Ruth (Jerry) Martin and Barbara Carnes; and lifelong friend and significant other, Thomas “Tony” Vance.
Friends are encouraged to support Helen’s family by attending services or sharing memories on her Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. Visitation was held Wednesday, January 24, 12-1:00 p.m., with funeral services following at 1:00 p.m. at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte with Rev. Fr. Dwight Ezop officiating. The funeral was webcast so you may watch it from any computer, smartphone, or mobile device that has internet access. Go to www.prayfuneral.com, click on Helen’s tribute, then click on Photos and Videos from your computer (or Media from your smart phone). If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Myasthenia Gravis Foundation in Grand Rapids. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.