Helen Louise Whisler

Born May 9, 1931

Helen Louise Padavich Whisler, age 93, passed away and went home to be with the Lord on Monday, January 13, 2025 at the Haven Hospice of Gainesville, Florida. A graveside service is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, February 8 at 11:00 AM at Gulf Pines Cemetery in Englewood, Florida.

Helen was born and raised in Centerville, Iowa to Albert and Mary Myrtle Padavich. Her paternal grandparents were Jakov “Jack” Padavich (Padavic) and Lucija Radosevic. Her maternal grandparents were William Franklin Stevens and Laura Belle Sweeden. In October of 1947 she married Bill D. Whisler (son of Carl and Mable Whisler) of Unionville, Iowa and they moved to the Cedar Lake, Indiana area where they raised their two sons, Bill D. Whisler Jr. and Phillip (Mickey) M. Whisler.

At Cedar Lake, Helen worked as a dental assistant for Albert L. Kazwell, attended the First Baptist Church of Cedar Lake and she was very active in the Cedar Lake Women’s League and the Cedar Lake Little League and Cedar Lake Babe Ruth Supporters. In 1972 Helen and Bill moved to Englewood, Florida where they managed the Sea Oats Apartments. During that time Helen returned to dentistry and for the next 43 years she worked as a dental assistant for South County Dental Care in Venice, Florida. In 2018 she retired at the age of 85 and moved to Gainesville, Florida to be near her son Phillip where she spent the last years of her life.

In 1986 Bill and Helen adopted their six grandchildren, Billy DeVere Whisler (Alana) Seoul, Korea; Bobbie Jo Whisler (Michael Gardner) Englewood, Florida; Darryl Ray Whisler, Englewood, Florida; Kathleen Marie Whisler (Conrad Timms),Dallas, Georgia; Michael Lee Whisler (Tara) Alma, Kansas; and Richard Marion Whisler.

Helen is preceded in death by her husband, her son, Bill and her 4 brothers (Albert, Ronald, Donald and Richard), and 2 sisters (Ruby and Wilma).

Helen lived a good life and left a lasting legacy for her many children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She will be sorely missed. The family requests that, in lieu of other tokens of sympathy, memorials be made to Haven Hospice of Gainesville, Florida.