Nobel, Helen R. (Mrs. Bernie) 1933-2024

NOBEL, VISSER

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/11/2024 at 14:20:04

Nobel, Helen R. Nobel Mrs. Bernie Obituary
Helen Rose (Visser) passed away March 13, 2024, 9 days shy of her 91st birthday. Helen was born in South Dakota to Tony and Ruth Visser. She married the love of her life, Bernie Nobel, on August 24, 1951 at her parents' home in Hawarden, Iowa. In 1953, Helen and Bernie started their family in Iowa where they lived for a year before they moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1954 because Bernie didn't want to be a farmer. He ended up working in construction and later became a union ironworker. In 1966 they built a house on Duncan Lake in Caledonia, Michigan and enjoyed many years on the lake. Weekends were filled with square dancing and hanging with family and friends. Helen was a very talented woman, she made all of her clothes and her daughters' clothes with a pedal sewing machine. She even made her square-dancing dresses with the full slip on that machine! Helen later bought an electric sewing machine and continued sewing. She also would make things from resin molds, cards from pressed flowers, taught herself how to play the accordion, and played a pump organ. She was also the go-to Avon lady in the neighborhood! Then in 1985 Helen and Bernie moved to Florida and lived in a 42 ft fifth wheel for five years. A few years later they bought a house trailer in LaBelle, Florida and property in the Florida Everglades. They dynamited a pond on the property and added a house trailer; living off grid using solar panels and a generator for power. Then in 2006, when Bernie and Helen sold the Everglade property, they moved to Fort Denaud, Florida, where they lived for 10 years. In 2016 they moved to Cobb Lake, in Wayland, Michigan to be closer to their family. They then enjoyed many years of lake living, including fishing, pontoon boat rides, and turtle hunting with the grandchildren. Helen is survived by her sisters: Evelyn Huenink and Betty (Tim) Jackes; brother Bill (Christy) Visser and sister-in-law Dorothy VerHey; her loving children: Beverly (Bob) Middleton, John (Cathy) Nobel, David (Kimberly) Nobel; grandchildren, Jennifer Middleton, Bob (Sarah) Middleton, Tracie (Jason) Makowski, Angela (Kurt) Nobel, Tyler Nobel, and Zach Nobel; great-grandchildren: Erikka, Everest, Ava, Korben, Madison, Mitchell, Lizzie, Callie, Brian, Alexandria, and Liam. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Bernie; parents Ruth and Tony Visser; baby Bernie Jr.; brother Arthur and sister Jean. Helen's family will receive friends on Saturday, March 16, 2024 from 2:00-3:00 PM at the Beeler-Gores Funeral Home, where her funeral service will be conducted at 3:00 PM. Private burial will take place next to her beloved husband in Coman Cemetery. Obit was reproduced in the Hawarden/Ireton Independent of Mar 21, 2024