Helga Magdalena Baumann

Helga Baumann, 88, of Portland, Oregon, passed away on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. Helga will be fondly remembered for her vivacious presence, her selfless giving of her time and energy to support anyone in need and the easy connection she made with so many people. She was a most loving and beloved mother, mother-in-law and “Oma”.

Helga was born on September 8, 1933 in Clausen, Rhineland Palatinate, Germany to Josef and Lydia (Germann) Matheis. She was the youngest of three, with two older brothers, Otto and Karl, and a father who doted on her. Helga liked to tell a particular story from her very young childhood: her mother would send her to the local baker for bread and admonish her to come home quickly, no dawdling, no chatting with everyone. From that time to the very end of her life, despite the struggles of Alzheimer’s, she could connect and talk effortlessly with anyone she met along the way.

At the age of 20, Helga emigrated to the US, like so many young Germans in the immediate post-war period, leaving behind family and girlfriends with whom she would remain close for life despite the distance between them. She met Manfred, who had emigrated from a town just a few miles away from her village. It was love at first sight for Manfred and soon Helga, too, fell for the handsome airman.

Helga and Manfred decided to stay in the US, where they raised two daughters, Patricia and Carol, and led a charmed life in the suburbs of Long Island, NY, tending a beautiful garden and socializing with a large network of friends and neighbors. Helga was particularly close with a group of German women, immigrants like herself, who met weekly to gossip and enjoy coffee and cake, a German tradition called the Kaffeeklatsch.

In their retirement, Helga and Manfred bought a condo in Florida, took up golf, traveled back home to Germany every year, and to many other beautiful places, and enjoyed their grandsons, Lucas and Henry. Their daughters led the way to Portland, where they set up a second home to be near family.

In 2019, Helga and Manfred moved to the Touchmark in the West Hills assisted living community in Portland, where they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary shortly before Manfred passed away in early 2020.

Helga is survived by her daughters Patricia Nimelman (Andrew) and Carol Baumann (Kevin) and grandsons, Lucas and Henry, as well as her sister-in-law Elisabeth Matheis of Germany, and brother- and sister-in-law Berndt and Hannelore Baumann of Germany. There will be a memorial service on Friday, April 28 at 3 pm at Ross Hollywood Chapel, 4733 NE Thompson St, Portland, OR 97213. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.rosshollywoodfuneralchapel.com. The family requests donations to the Alzheimer’s Association in lieu of flowers. (www.alz.org)