Helen Anne Wetzel, 90, passed away July 13, 2024, at Brookdale Senior Living, Great Bend, Kansas. She was born on July 2, 1934, to George Paul and Alta (Morris) Maskus in Ford County, Kansas. Helen was baptized as an infant at St. Michaels Lutheran Church in Hodgeman County on August 5, 1934, her sponsors being Henry and Bertha Niedens. She was confirmed in the Lutheran faith in June 1946 at St. Michaels. Helen attended grade school in Hodgeman County and graduated from Dodge City High School in 1952.
She married Edgar “Ed” Wetzel on December 28, 1952, at St. Michaels. She followed her Air Force husband for 3 years of married life before moving to Great Bend in December 1955. Helen was a homemaker.
Helen was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church since 1955, where she served as a Sunday school teacher, youth leader, member of the Care team, and assisted with LOGOS and Vacation Bible School. She also served as secretary and president of Bethany Circle.
She enjoyed playing Bridge, spending time with her family - especially the great great granddaughters, singing, good friends, and reading. She and Ed loved to travel and enjoyed trips to Jamaica, Hawaii, Alaska, Acapulco, Canada, Niagara Falls, and a Caribbean cruise for a belated honeymoon. Many fond memories were made while wintering in South Texas.
Survivors include her son, Randy Wetzel and wife Brenda of Great Bend; daughter, Renee Holl and husband Dennis of St. John; grandson, Dennis Price of Wichita; three great grandchildren, Haley Jackson and husband Chris of Russell, Cody Piland and wife Chelsa of Wichita, and Ava Winters of Winfield; three great great granddaughters, Kaylee Jackson, Kellie Jackson, and Peyton Piland; two brothers, Jim Maskus and wife Pat of Edmond, Oklahoma, and Richard Maskus and wife Linda of Bolivar, Missouri; sisters-in-law, Irene Maskus and Nancy Maskus, both of Jetmore; and many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her husband; granddaughter, Michelle Price; her parents; four brothers, Paul, Jack, Bill and Robert Maskus; and three sisters, Jean Bushell, Joyce Koehn, and Phyllis Weiss.