Helene Manzke

Helene Martha (Depold) Manzke was born August 13, 1934 in Brooklyn, NY in the home of her parents, Herman and Helene Depold and died peacefully on October 4, 2025 at Legacy Village at Plantation Manor. She was a child of God, devoted wife, doting mother, adoring grandmother, and loving aunt and friend.

Helene grew up in New York City in a musical family worshipping the Lord. She played the B Flat Baritone and sang with her two sisters, Dolores and Janet. It was during a church service in her early teens that she would first meet her husband, Richard, who was smitten by her pig-tails. They married on November 7, 1956 and for the next 27 years, they lived the Army life including two tours in Vietnam.

She was dedicated to the Lord and her family. She enjoyed singing in church choirs; sewing or doing needle point; cheering at swim meets and soccer games; reading her Bible; and making photo albums. She always welcomed family and friends with home-cooked German meals. She loved supporting her family and being part of their lives and had fond memories of family gatherings at Brant Lake and Camp-of-the-Woods.

She is survived by her husband, CWO 4 (retired) Richard Charles Manzke; her daughter and son-in-law, Eve and Dennis Geyer; two grandchildren, Kathleen and Andrew Geyer; sister and brother-in-law, Janet and Norbert Baer; and brother and sister-in-law, Hans and Susan Depold; and countless nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, Herman and Helene Depold; brothers, Herman, Ernie, and Karl Depold; and sister, Dolores Waldvogel.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 11th at 2 pm at Legacy Village Assisted Living Facility, 220 Park Ave. Thomasville, GA 31792. It will be officiated by Pastor Scott Stanfill, the Senior Pastor at Thomasville First Methodist Church.