Helen Blanche Rau was born on November 16, 1921 in Greeley, CO to Alexander and Mollie Kaiser Pope and passed away on December 30, 2016. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Faith. Her 1936 confirmation was conducted in German by the Rev. Max Schoenhaar at St. John’s Lutheran Church.
Helen graduated from Greeley High School (now Greeley Central) in 1940. She worked as a nurse’s aide at Weld County General Hospital where she met her first husband, whose father was a patient.
She married Charles Robert Crosley, and from this union, two daughters were born: Sharon and Pamela. They later divorced. She then married Henry Rau; they also divorced.
Helen worked in various school cafeterias and in retail while her children were growing up.
After retirement, Helen enjoyed twenty years as an Election Judge, in addition to volunteering her time and talents to various projects at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church where she had been a member since 1950.
Helen’s hobbies included exercising and reading. She instilled a love of reading in both of her daughters.
Family was Helen’s greatest joy, and she was very proud of each and every one in her five generation family.
She was preceded in death by her parents, an infant sister, and a daughter, Sharon Sue McQuown.
She is survived by her brother Robert Pope and family; daughter Pamela Cola (Michael); grandsons Martin Rau and Daniel Reed; granddaughters Nancy Cagney, Shari Wagner, Marcia Guadagni, and Kristin Harding; great grandsons Jeremy Francis and Gregory Rau; great granddaughters Tiffany Rau, Randi Fields, Stephanie Francis, Kelli Spiesman, Gabriella Guadagni, Isabella Guadagni, and Olivia Harding; great-great grandchildren Paxton, Alexandra, Grayson, Rylie, Jacob, Evan, Patrick, Jase, Jeremy, and Liam.
Helen is also survived by many friends and neighbors who were very dear to her.
In lieu of flowers, do something fun with your family!
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