Helen Marie (Reinecke) Stallbaumer was born October 20, 1916 at her family’s   homestead east of Baileyville, Kansas.   She left this world peacefully on March 23, 2019 at Life Care Center of Seneca.  She was 102 years old. Helen was one of those who filled your soul with sunshine.

Helen was the second of seven children born to John and Rose Hohe Reinecke. She graduated from Sacred Heart School in Baileyville.  After working for her uncle “Big Mike Reinecke” in Baileyville for some time, she went to work as a housekeeper at St. Margaret’s Hospital in Kansas City, KS.

Helen married Hubert (Hub) Stallbaumer on April 20, 1938 at Sacred Heart Church in Baileyville.  They shared their lives together in the Baileyville / Seneca area by farming and raising four children.  In 1965 they moved to Atchison, Kansas where they both worked for Mt. St. Scholastica Convent.  Helen later enjoyed working for Benedictine College in Atchison for 20 years before she retired.  After 40 years of marriage Helen said her final goodbye to her dear Hubert on October 13, 1978.  In 1990 Helen returned to Seneca to reside at Life Care Center to be near relatives, and where she received many years of loving care.

Helen was a devoted Catholic and member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca, and St. Joseph’s Church in Atchison.  She took pride in cleaning the church regularly, and also was housekeeper for the parish priests at St. Joseph’s.  She touched the lives of many as an active member of the Altar Society in both churches.  She also became a Benedictine Oblate and was a member of the Legion of Mary in Atchison.

At an early age she learned to play the piano and she loved music throughout her life.  When her children misbehaved she would sing church songs to them.  Helen loved to garden, and took great pride in her vegetables and flowers.  It was a treat for her children to “graze” on strawberries and peas in the garden.  Her favorite flower was the rose because it reminded her of her mother, who died when Helen was just ten years old. She stayed active into her later years at Life Care by embroidering, nurturing her flower garden, playing the piano, attending senior aerobics, playing cards, reading, and visiting with friends and relatives.

There were sad days when Helen was preceded in death in June 2013 by her oldest child, Richard of Overland Park, KS; the death of her youngest son, Danny in September 2018; and by her oldest grandson Timothy (son of Larry) who passed at birth in July 1968.  Helen will be greatly missed by her surviving family - Richard’s wife Toby of Overland Park; Larry and his wife Nadine from Topeka, KS; Debbie and her husband Bill Barrett from Evergreen, CO.  Helen treasured her six grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren.

Helen is survived by her youngest sister, Rose Ann Nordhus of Seneca.  She was preceded in death by her other siblings – Sr. Theophane Reinecke O.S.B; Rita Holthaus; Clara Sextro; Clarence “Little Mike” Reinecke; and Frank Reinecke.

The rosary will be prayed at 2 P.M. on Thursday, March 28, 2019 at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 A.M. Friday March 29, 2019 at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca.  There will be a private burial in Atchison, KS.    

Memorials can be made in Helen’s memory to Sts. Peter & Paul Church, or sent in care of the family, who will never stop missing her.