Helen Check

Helen Check, age 89 of Britton passed away Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017 at Countryside Care Center in Jackson. Helen was born April 20, 1928 the daughter of the late Joseph and Kathryn (Karafiat) Studnicka.  On February 17, 1947 in Angola, Ind., she married John Check, Jr. He preceded her in death on February 22, 2007.

Helen retired from Ford Motor Company in Rawsonville after 25 years. Helen could be found doing jigsaw puzzles, listening to polka music and playing euchre. She liked wandering around flea markets and garage sales looking for treasures. Helen enjoyed spending time canning, baking, cooking and working in the garden. She also liked to spend time at the lakefront home in the Irish Hills and going to the Tecumseh Senior Center for bingo. Helen’s greatest love was following the grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s sporting events. The last two years she enjoyed the company and activities at the Countryside Care Center.

Helen is survived by one daughter, Joan (Tom) Smetka of Elmira; a son, Gary (Denise) Check of Horton; sisters, Mary Beening of Toledo, Betty Studnicka of Britton, and Kathryn Karlik of St. Johns; brothers, Rudy (Joyce) Studnicka of Mancelona and Bob Studnicka of Milan; five grandchildren, Rochelle (Mike) Cullip, Traci Smetka, Nicole (Matt) Voorhees, Elaine Check and Sarah (Brant) Horne; eight great-grandchildren, Rhi and Charlotte Cullip, Jadyn, Alyssa and Raegan Horne, and Jonathan, Nicholas and Benjamin Voorhees. 

In addition to her husband, John, and her parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Frances Studnicka and Pauline Tingley and four brothers, Jerry, Joe, Jim and John Studnicka.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 27, 2017 at the Tecumseh Chapel of Handler Funeral Homes with Rev. Jack Brown officiating. Burial followed in Ridgeway Cemetery.  Visitation was on Saturday from 4-8 p.m. 

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association or the Alzheimer’s Association. 

Condolences may be offered to the family at www.handlerfuneralhomes.com.