Helen Ruth (Lenzendorf) Schneider
June 13, 1934–February 20, 2025
Helen Ruth (Lenzendorf) Schneider, 90 of Prairie du Chien, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, at Prairie Maison Nursing Home in Prairie du Chien.
Helen was born on June 13, 1934, the eighth child after seven sons of parents Robert and Amy Esther (Watters) Lenzendorf, who resided on a farm near rural Eastman.
She was baptized at the Eastman Salem EUB Church and later joined the St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church in Prairie du Chien, where she remained a longtime member.
Helen attended various country schools through the eighth grade. Helen married the love of her life Herbert “Herb” Joseph Schneider April 12, 1955, at Gabriel’s Church in Prairie du Chien and together they raised six children.
Other than raising her children, Helen worked at the Northern Engraving (Lansing, Iowa) for three years then in the Retail Meat Department at the Piggly Wiggly (Prairie du Chien) for nearly 20 years until her retirement.
Helen enjoyed weekend trips to visit her sisters, family vacations throughout the United States, watching the Green Bay Packers and Milwaukee Bucks on television, and attending her grandchildren’s sporting and school events. She also enjoyed helping her family with various projects, tending to her flower gardens and canning produce from her garden.
Helen’s faith kept her actively involved in church activities and she was very proud of making many pies for church dinners. Helen’s greatest joy was being surrounded by her precious children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Helen is survived by her children and grandchildren: Allan and Jane Baker (special friend) of Seneca (Ryan, Andrea Dunbar); Marilyn and Don Palmer of Eastman (Melissa Fisher, Angela Palmer-Fisher, Amy Ankerson, Aaron); Patty and Mick Kneeland of Reedsburg (Joe, Chris, Matt); David and Meaghan of Marquette, Iowa; (Anthony, Stephen, Molly Moose, Brandon); Scott and Marie of Viroqua (Collin, Christian, Nicholas, Breanna, Samantha); Nancy Schneider of Prairie du Chien (Emily McIntosh, Erica, Elise); 25 great grandchildren, four step-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Helen was preceded in death by her husband; parents; brothers Lyle, Earl, Robert, Faye, Lloyd, Harold, and LeRoy; sisters Shirley Vogel, Jean Blocklinger, Evelyn Reed, Carol Beckett and Darlene Schleuter; her infant great grandson Ryne Fisher and step great grandson Jayce Reynolds.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, February 28, 2025, at 11 a.m. at St. Gabriel’s Church of the Holy Family Parish, Fr. Thomas Huff officiating with burial in the Calvary Cemetery, both in Prairie du Chien.
Friends may call at the Garrity Funeral Home in Prairie du Chien on Feb. 27 from 4 to 7:00 p.m., where there will be a rosary at 3:30 P.M.
Friends may also call at the funeral home on Friday from 10 a.m. until the time of departure for the church. www.garrityfuneralhome.com.
