Helen Louise (Vap) Voegele, longtime Newkirk resident, passed away early Saturday afternoon, Jan. 18, 2020 at her home . She was

78.

The daughter of Joseph L. and Anna (Horinek) Vap, Helen was born on January 19, 1941 in Apache, Ok. into a family already blessed with 5 older sisters. Due to complications from childbirth, her mother passed away shortly thereafter and she was raised by her paternal grandparents who were first generation Czechoslovakian immigrants. She spoke no English until her older sisters taught her before entering first grade. She graduated with the class of 1959.

Helen married Richard Leo “Dick” Voegele on April 30, 1959 at Our Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church in Apache. They made their home on the Voegele family farm northwest of Newkirk.

She was proud of the fact that she was the longest inhabitant of the Voegele centennial home built in 1916.

Helen worked alongside her husband, Dick, raising wheat and cattle. She was a gifted seamstress and made many of the clothes for her children. She touched many with her crocheted nylon pot scrubbers and would teach anyone how to make them if they would stand still long enough. She was an avid reader and spent many hours with her head buried in a book. She was a kind soul, never met a stranger and had a wicked sense of humor.

Helen is survived by her two children, Ann Trujillo and her husband Paul, John and his partner Rick Hollingsworth. She is blessed with 3 grandchildren, Paige Trujillo, Zach Trujilllo and wife Amanda, and Kylie Trujillo. Also surviving are two sisters, Margaret Williamson and Betty Fuxa, her special friend and companion Louis Vines and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Richard; her parents, Joe and Anna Vap; and two sisters Joan Scroggins, Ann Scroggins and Alice Koontz.

Helen embraced her lifelong Catholic faith, believing in life after death. One of the greatest things Helen was looking forward to upon her death was to meet her mother, Anna. We wonder what they are up to now.

Prayer services will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday in St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Newkirk and led by Deacon Dick Robinson. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 Thursday, Jan. 23 in the church with the Rev. Deva Undralla at Celebrate. Interment will follow in the Newkirk Cemetery. Miller-Stahl Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements. The body will lie in state at the funeral home Thursday from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. when it will be taken to the church for prayer services.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions in Helen Voegele’s name to the Newkirk Library, 116 N. Maple Ave., Newkirk, OK 74647-2047. paid obituary