Helen Marie Brucks

Helen was born on December 7, 1934, in Blanco County, Texas to Hubert A. and Johanna (Willms) Bagby. Helen, along with her 3 sisters and 1 brother, was raised in Bulverde and the Cranes Mill area of Comal County, Texas. She attended the Ufnau School in Spring Branch, Texas and Bulverde Junior High School. She left school several years before graduating to help out her family - but went on, later in life, to proudly acquire her high school equivalency diploma. Helen was the third of five children. She loved her family and was heartbroken to lose her mother at a young age – then, later, her father and brother, who both perished in a tragic house fire in 1965. Helen’s father owned and ran a gas station and store at a location that is now the corner of Highway 281 and Highway 46 in western Comal County – called Bagby Store.

Helen met Bernard Brucks in 1949. They quickly fell in love and were married on November 23, 1951, at St Paul Lutheran Church in Bulverde, Texas. Helen and Bernard moved to the Solms area of New Braunfels after marriage. The following year they were blessed with their first child, Donna Marie. Bernard was a Math teacher at Canyon High School and eventually was promoted to Principal there, in 1962. Their second child, Kenneth William, was born in 1959, shortly before they moved to a new home on Dunlap Drive in New Braunfels – to be closer to the schools. Helen worked at Mission Valley Mills and Comet Hosiery Mill during those years to help support her new and growing family. In 1966, another daughter, Lisa Ann, was born. The family continued to live on Dunlap Drive until 1971, when they built a new home on River Acres Drive in New Braunfels. In the coming years, Helen applied to work in the administration office at Navarro ISD in Seguin, Texas, and was quickly hired to work in the Superintendent’s office there. She loved working at Navarro and made many long-lasting friendships while working there. She worked there until she retired in 1989. Bernard was also hired there as Principal of the Junior High and High School in 1975, so the two of them had the pleasure of working together for several years before Bernard retired from teaching in 1985. Helen and Bernard were happily married for 67 years, until Bernard passed away in 2018.

Helen and Bernard were extremely busy with many hobbies and activities. They both loved to bowl. They were members at Barbarossa and Zorn, nine-pin bowling clubs. They made many friends in their years bowling. They also loved to go boating and camping - and owned tents, boats and travel trailers throughout their years together. Helen and Bernard owned property on Lake McQueeney, and for many years hosted family reunions and parties there. Bernard would barbecue and Helen would make sure everyone was comfortable and having a good time. People still talk about those celebrations today. They also owned a vacation condominium in Port Aransas, Texas - where they spent many days, after retirement, hanging out by the swimming pool or on the beach with their friends and family– which they truly loved! Helen was a 75-year member of Herman Sons Lodge, St. Paul Lutheran Church - New Braunfels, and Texas Retired Teachers Association.

Helen is preceded in death by her parents, and her husband, Bernard - as well as sisters, Alice (Walleck) and her husband John and Martha (Brucks) and her husband Horace; a brother, Roland and his wife, Marie, as well as her son-in-law, Dan Mittel. She is survived by a sister Jewell (Betty) Schuetz of New Braunfels, two daughters, Donna Mittel of Fredericksburg and Lisa Satterwhite, and her husband John of New Braunfels. A son, Ken, and his wife Lisa of New Braunfels. Grandchildren, Robin Hollis and her husband Billy of Austin, Jessica Mittel and her husband Travis Neal of Fredericksburg, Lauren Saunders and her husband Brian of Rockwall, Texas and Blaine Brucks and his wife Heather of Cedar Park, Texas. She is also survived by 10 great grandchildren – Jude, Pearl, Boone and Tilly Hollis; Ruby and Ford Davis; Charlie Neal; Kennedy and Parker Saunders and Boston Brucks. Helen was also blessed to have had 39 nieces and nephews and two step grandchildren, Lane and Tori Satterwhite – as well as one great step grandchild, Layla Satterwhite.

Services for Helen will be Saturday, May 17, 2025 at St Paul Lutheran Church, 777 West San Antonio Street, New Braunfels, Texas. Visitation will begin at 1:00 pm and the church service will begin at 2:00 pm. There will be a reception following the service in the church fellowship hall. A private burial will follow in the coming weeks.

Helen’s family would like to thank the staff at the Elan Westpoint Memory Care for the wonderful care they gave her during her 2 ½ years there – particularly, Martha, Paola, Grace, Ayahna, Alicia, Diane, Wendy and Abby who were absolute angels to her, and cared for her as if she was their own. They want to also thank the NP at Elan, Michelle Flores.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church – St. Martins Church Fund, Hope Hospice or to the charity of your choice.

Helen's service will be live streamed through the following links:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/live/bqQ4RaD4Fn4?si=x5LRWP3bNZeLWpbp

St Paul Website: https://www.nbstpaul.org/live-stream/