Helen P. Ratkowski

(nee Petushek)

• Visitation Friday, April 21, 2023 at St. Matthias Parish, 9306 Beloit Road, Milwaukee 53227 from 10:00 AM until the time of the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 AM.
• Entombment to follow at St. Adalbert Cemetery.

Helen Pauline Ratkowski (nee Petushek) 94, found eternal peace on April 2, 2023, surrounded in love by her family at home. Born November 13, 1928, in a little white house on West Scott Street in Milwaukee to Alexander and Fannie (nee Jermonick) Petushek.

She married the love of her life, Myron R. Ratkowski on August 4, 1948, in Milwaukee. Affectionally called “Helcha” by Myron “the Chief,” Helen embraced the life of a police officer’s wife and most especially the vocation of motherhood, being blessed with nine children and raising them with strength, grace, faith, and unconditional love. There was always room at Helcha’s table for unexpected family, friends, and strangers alike, and always an abundance of food.     Helen was famously known for feeding the multitudes,   sometimes with limited ingredients,   and she most likely  “entertained angels unawares”  with her hospitality (Hebrews 13:2).    She was a prolific reader, a NY Times crossword puzzle enthusiast, an avid gardener, God’s custodian to the backyard wildlife and Myron’s companion on all things adventurous.

Helen is survived by her loving children and proud card-carrying members of our special society “Helcha’s Helpers,” Thomas (Gloria), Timothy (Dawn), Terese (John) Cieslak, Tracy (Daniel) Wieselman, Todd (Harriet), Thaddeus (Patti), Trent, Tamara (Kenneth) Spone and Trisha (Joseph) Voegtline; 23 loving grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law of the late Stephen (Clementine), Michael David (Carol) and Daniel (the late Sue); numerous nieces and nephews, other relatives and dear friends.

Preceded in death by her loving and devoted husband, Myron;   her parents Alexander and Fannie Petushek; her siblings Alexander (Anne), Ann (Henry) Valerio, Peter (Isabell), Mary (William) Koenen and Delores; and sisters-in-law Pauline (Warren) Sass and Delores (Robert) Graeven.

Helen’s family would like to offer their sincere appreciation to the entire staff at Compassus Hospice, especially Michelle, Jared, Carrie, and Barb for the wonderful care given to Helen. In lieu of flowers, donations directly to the Compassus Living Foundation would be greatly appreciated.

Online donation:  Home – Compassus Living Foundation

Donation by mail:

Compassus Living Foundation
503 N. Euclid Avenue, Suite 9E
Bay City, MI 48706
(989) 891-2231

When donating by mail, please be sure to include their donation form which you can download here:

CLF-Contribution-Form-web.pdf (compassuslivingfoundation.org)