Frances E. Helgemo

Frances E. “Fran” Helgemo, 82, of Chippewa Falls, passed away Friday, October 11, 2024, at Caretta Assisted Living in Eau Claire, while under the care of Lily Hospice.

She was born October 4, 1942, in Milwaukee, WI to Walter and Laura (Berndt) Wojtowicz. 

On June 8, 1963, she married Robert (“Bob”) Helgemo in Milwaukee, and they went on to enjoy 60 wonderful years together. 

Fran received her teaching degree from the University of Wisconsin Whitewater, which was where she met Bob, the love of her life. Over the years their family moved to different communities where Fran taught in the public schools, including Chicago and Sheboygan. In 1990, they moved to Chippewa Falls where she continued to substitute teach and tutor kids in the school district. 

Upon moving to Lake Wissota in 1990, Fran was very active in the Lake Wissota Lake Association, serving on the board for many years. She enjoyed gardening, canning (which once included a black swallowtail caterpillar that was feeding on some dill she used for dill pickles that was subsequently fed to her grand-dog who happily scarfed that down) candy making (she had her own family candy brand we had dubbed “Frannie May”), knitting, sewing (a prom dress with a velvet bodice was the bane of her sewing existence!) collecting owls, and malapropisms, the most memorable of which perhaps was “bleeding like a stuffed pig.” She loved her church community and sang in the church choir for a number of years as well as going to knitting group. She was an avid reader with her own in home mini library. She loved to read to wind down for an afternoon nap or before bed. 

Fran is survived by her children, Dirk (Vicky) Helgemo of MN, Mandy (Jamie) Rhead of MN, and Rick Helgemo of Eau Claire; grandchildren, Alex, Freya, Brianna, Mikayla, Courtney, Kylie, and Danica; great-grandchildren, Claire and Finley; brothers, John (Barb) Wojtowicz and Jim (Karen) Wojtowicz; and many other relatives and friends. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bob in May 2024; brothers, Walter Jr. and Lawrence Wojtowicz; and sister, Patricia Stroebel.

A celebration of life will be held Monday, November 4, at noon at Zion United Methodist Church, 1102 Superior St, Chippewa Falls, with a visitation beginning one hour prior.

In lieu of flowers, donations are preferred to the nonprofit ensemble, Chorale Nouveau.