Helen Augusta (Malischke) “Mama Lu” Lueck, 84, of the Town of Wescott, passed away on Nov. 7, 2024, in Appleton.
Helen was born on June 20, 1940, the oldest of four children of Carl and Kathryn (Marx) Malischke. She grew up in the Washington Highlands neighborhood of Wauwatosa. She was a graduate of Divine Savior High School in Milwaukee, class of 1958.
On June 24, 1961, Helen was united in marriage to William Lueck at St. Sebastian Church in Milwaukee. She raised her children in Appleton as an active member of Sacred Heart Parish and School.
When her youngest went off to college, Helen decided to continue the pursuit of a library science degree at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Graduating in 1991, she went on to be a librarian assistant at Wilson Middle School in Appleton. This job gave her great joy as it fed her love of books. She always made sure that there were books under the Christmas tree for her children and grandchildren. This is how she was given the nickname of “The Book Lady.”
When she retired from her career, she continued her passion by building and stocking a registered Little Free Library at the end of her lake home driveway. She was a member of St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church in Cecil and belonged to the Emmaus group.
Helen and Bill have been coming to their Loon Lake cottage since 1961, and in 2007, they tore down their cottage to build their permanent home. She enjoyed spending time with her family, especially holiday gatherings, taking boat rides, watching birds and listening to the loons. Her other interests included researching genealogy, and knitting.
She belonged to an Embroiderers Guild in Appleton and a quilting group in Shawano. She loved, collected and cared for African violets.
Helen is survived by her children and grandchildren, Dennis and Mary (Gerovac) Lueck of the Town of Wescott, and their children, Tyler and Rosemary (Traylor) of Bend, Oregon; Jacob and Emily (Hunt) and their child William of Piedmont, South Carolina; Mary Claire Lueck of the Town of Wescott; Scott and Jody (Todd) Lueck of Appleton and their children, Allison and A.J. Riehle and their children Avery Lueck and Arlette Riehle of Port Washington; Mitchell and his fiance Laura Ramirez of Chicago; Zachary and his fiance Jessica Burant of Port Washington; Nicholas and Jennifer; Gregory and Christine (Large) Lueck of Walworth and their children, Alyssa, Benjamin, Makenzie and her fiance Austin Kopp, Sydney and Elizabeth.
She is further survived by her siblings, Carl and Maureen (Crowley) and his previous wife Diane (Palmert) Malischke, Paul and Mary (Kilsdonk) Malischke, Kathy Szpak, Peter and Jane (Ellefson) Malischke; along with many nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.
Helen was preceded in death by her husbandm William Bernard Lueck; her brother-in-law, Gregory Szpak; her parents, Carl and Kathryn (Marx) Malischke; and William’s parents, Bernard and Constance (Hahl) Lueck.
A memorial Mass for Helen will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church in Cecil. Visitation will be held on Nov. 18, 2024, from 4-7 p.m. at Swedberg Zastrow Funeral Home in Cecil with a prayer service to begin at 6:30 p.m. Visitation will continue on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of Mass. Inurnment will be held in the church cemetery following Mass and luncheon.
To honor Helen’s memory, memorials will be used for the building of and stocking of a Little Free Children’s Library in the Town of Wescott as well as a contribution for landscaping at the St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church cemetery.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Mary Claire, Dennis and Mary for their loving care of Mama Lu.
www.swedbergfuneralhome.com
Helen Augusta (Malischke) ‘Mama Lu’ Lueck
