Lois Mae Helsel
1941 - 2017 (Age 75) 
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Person ID: I13674 | Tree: FunknSmart | Last Modified: 22 Dec 2020
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Name Lois Mae Helsel Born 8 May 1941 Holidaysburg, Blair, Pennsylvania, USA 
Gender Female Died 2 Feb 2017 Athens, Clarke, Georgia, USA Family
Husband Harold M. Sollenberger Children -
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- ois passed away on Thursday, February 2, 2017 in Athens, GA. Born on May 8, 1941 to William and Vera (Amick) Helsel in Holidaysburg, PA. She married Harold M. Sollenberger on August 31, 1963, having celebrated their 53rd anniversary in 2016. She is the loving mother of Kristin Lee (Daniel Stupar) Sollenberger of Wakefield, RI and Alan William (Stacy) Sollenberger of Marietta, GA. Lois is survived by four gifted and caring grandchildren: Emma Lynn, Brennan Scott, and Gavin Boice Sollenberger of Marietta, GA and Amick Kalief Stupar Sollenberger of Wakefield, RI.
She is predeceased by her parents; sister, Joyce Clouse, and brother, William Helsel.
Surviving are brothers, Paul (Margie) Helsel and David (Sharon) Helsel of Woodbury, PA and Merle (Janelle) Helsel of New Enterprise, PA, and numerous nieces and nephews, mostly living in the Morrison Cove area of Blair and Bedford counties in Pennsylvania.
Lois is a graduate of Northern Bedford High School and a 1963 honors graduate of Shippensburg University. She did graduate work at Indiana University, Bloomington and worked for IU in the Research Center for Anthropology, Linguists, and Folklore. Later, she was controller of Publicom and an accountant for Books Done, both in Lansing, MI. She served with her husband as treasurer of two successful gubernatorial campaigns.
She was a life-long Lutheran and current member of Faith Lutheran of Okemos, MI (ELCA) and Lake Oconee Lutheran of Eatonton, GA (Missouri Synod). She was a firm believer in Christ’s Work of Grace and lived her life accordingly. Lois suffered for many years from a variety of illnesses, mainly Addison’s disease that resulted in much pain and discomfort. She lived through these impediments with loveliness, toughness, and enthusiasm for life, her children, her churches, and her career. She supported her husband in numerous positions within Michigan State University’s accounting and MBA programs, known for her hosting, entertaining, and editing. She was particularly active in the Community Volunteers for International Programs at MSU, chairing the Scholarship Committee and leading the Gift Shop of the annual Global Festival. She traveled extensively with her husband as part of MSU’s international programs, embracing the cultures of over 20 countries at last count.
Lois was an active collector. Most notable of her passions were items related to candy and chocolate making, Chinese and Tibetan jewelry, pie birds, and books related to Peter Rabbit and fairytales. Greatest among her collections were the friends she made wherever she went. She lived a full and loving life in spite of constant physical limitations and evolving health issues.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any memorial gifts be given to the CVIP Parks Scholarship Fund (c/o of the MSU Development Fund, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824); to Faith Lutheran Church, Okemos, MI; or to Lake Oconee Lutheran Church, Eatonton, GA in honor of Lois Sollenberger.
Memorial services will be held on Saturday, February 18 at 11:00 a.m. at Lake Oconee Lutheran Church, 1089 Lake Oconee Parkway, Eatonton, GA; on Saturday, March 18 at 11:00 a.m. at Faith Lutheran Church, 4515 Dobie Road, Okemos, MI; and in June in Woodbury, PA, near her family cemetery.
An online guest book is available at BernsteinFuneralHome.com.
She is in the care of Bernstein Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Athens, GA.
- ois passed away on Thursday, February 2, 2017 in Athens, GA. Born on May 8, 1941 to William and Vera (Amick) Helsel in Holidaysburg, PA. She married Harold M. Sollenberger on August 31, 1963, having celebrated their 53rd anniversary in 2016. She is the loving mother of Kristin Lee (Daniel Stupar) Sollenberger of Wakefield, RI and Alan William (Stacy) Sollenberger of Marietta, GA. Lois is survived by four gifted and caring grandchildren: Emma Lynn, Brennan Scott, and Gavin Boice Sollenberger of Marietta, GA and Amick Kalief Stupar Sollenberger of Wakefield, RI.