Helen Louise Nelson

Helen Louise Nelson, age 89, died at Porter Hospital in Denver, Colorado on August 15, 2019 of a sudden brain hemorrhage. She enjoyed mostly good health up until the end, which was quick.

Born on May 15, 1930 in East Leavenworth, Missouri, to Edwin C. Gaiser and Louise A. (Peterson) Gaiser, Helen was the youngest of three sisters. Her sisters, Dorothy and Olive, predeceased her. She grew up on a family farm which had no indoor plumbing nor electric refrigeration (she knew the literal meaning of the word ""icebox""). Helen graduated from Platte City High School (Missouri) in 1948, and Park College, Parkville MO, in 1952 with a Bachelor's degree in Home Economics.

After college, Helen worked for JCPenney for two years, for Connecticut Mutual Insurance in Kansas City for three years, and then for TWA for five years in Platte City, MO. She married David S. Nelson in 1962 and moved to Denver with him, after which her primary occupation was a homemaker. She was a member of Epiphany Lutheran Church in Denver, along with David, from 1962 until her passing. She enjoyed gardening, cooking and baking, sewing and reading and time with family and friends.

Her life was one of serving her family, friends and church, and all who knew her were enriched by her. She really excelled in the art of mothering, and several of her daughters' friends thought of her as their ""second mom."" She will be greatly missed.

She is survived by her daughters, Sarah Nelson of Denver (married to Fred Patz), Ellen S. Bryla of Palmyra, VA, (married to Bill Bryla), and Ellen and Bill's four children, Debra, David, Genevieve and Rachel.

A memorial service will be held at Epiphany Lutheran Church in Denver on Monday, September 16 at 10:30 a.m.

Memorial donations may be made to:

 

Lutheran World Relief — lwr.org or PO Box 17061, Baltimore, MD 21297-1061

FISH of East Denver (local food bank) — send check to Epiphany with FISH in the memo line

Epiphany Lutheran Church — 790 S. Corona St., Denver CO 80209