Helen Margaret Sharpe
Oct 06, 1922 - Feb 23, 2023
After 100 years of grace, our Lord, in His great mercy, called His daughter, Helen Margaret Sharpe, home to Himself in heaven on Thursday, February 23, 2023. She died peacefully at The Cottages at Meadowlands in Oconto Falls.
Helen was born on Friday, October 6, 1922 in Peshtigo to Otto and Hulda (Anderson) Topel. She was baptized in 1923. Helen grew up between Peshtigo and Marinette on county jail property where her father was sheriff of Marinette County.
Helen was confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Marinette on April 5, 1936. Her confirmation verse was John 13:1. Helen remained faithful to her Lord and Savior all her life.
She graduated from Marinette High School with the class of 1938. Helen graduated from Business College in Marinette.
On June 16, 1944, Helen married Rellis (Bud) Sharpe in Alabama. Helen and Bud and their family lived in Peshtigo, WI where she operated Pel-Bar Nursing Home before moving to Oconto Falls 53 years ago. Together, they owned and operated Falls Nursing Home. In 1981 they sold the nursing home to their son and daughter-in-law and enjoyed their winters in Florida. She was a member of Peace Lutheran Church of Bradenton, FL and St. Paul Lutheran Church of Oconto Falls. Helen was a longtime member of River Island Golf Club and active in the Ladies’ League for years. She was also an avid bridge player.
Survivors are her children, Cathy (Bob) Rudolph, Milwaukee; James (Debbie) Sharpe, Bradenton, FL; Cara (Tim) Peterson, Oconto Falls; six grandchildren: Chad (Schauna) Rudolph, Christiana, TN; Todd (Caroline) Rudolph, Centennial, CO; Shelby (Brian) Campbell, Berthoud, CO; Erica (Jim) Lynch, DePere, WI; Jessie (Jeff) Jahnke, Abrams, WI; Alex (Lucas) Hartwig, Shawano, WI and 11 great-grandchildren: Taylor, Madison, Parker, Ivy, Norah, Isla, Anna, Nolan, Grant, Wendell, Ezra and two great step-sons; James (Milwaukee) and Michael (DePere).
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and in-laws, Ben and Amanda Sharpe, Peshtigo, WI, three brothers, Les, Walter and Clifford Topel; two sisters, Gladys Constine and Myrtle Matty, Marinette.
Visitation will be held after 11:00 AM Friday, March 3, 2023 at Grace Lutheran Church in Oconto Falls, WI until the time of service. Funeral services will be held 2:00 PM Friday at the church with the Rev. Gary Olsen officiating. Burial will take place immediately after the service in Woodlawn Cemetery in Oconto Falls, WI.
The family would like to extend deepest thanks to the very special people at The Cottages at Meadowlands and ProMedica Hospice. To all of you, “Grandma” says, “Stay Safe. This too shall pass.”
In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church or Forget Me Not Fund for continuing education on dementia.