HELDKE, Carol M. (December 7, 1924 - April 26, 2010) Carol M. Heldke, age 85, of Rice Lake, WI died on April 26, 2010 at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire, WI. Carol was born on December 7, 1924, in Cameron, to Walter and Eugenia (Beranek) Coleman. She graduated from Cameron High School in 1942 and joined the office staff of the Rice Lake Creamery Company. There, she met her husband, Richard. They were married for 59 years. Carol spent her life as a “professional volunteer,” who regarded helping others as her calling. A dedicated member of Trinity Lutheran Church, she was especially active on the altar guild, the Lutheran Church Women and the funeral service committee. In her last years, the mornings she spent making quilts for Lutheran World Relief, and the days she volunteered at Yours, Mine and Ours thrift store were among her most treasured times. Her civic involvement included many years as a 4-H leader, a member of the Lakeview Medical Center Auxiliary, and a member of the Barron County Traffic Safety Committee. Carol was a legendary pie and jam maker, who loved to share her creations with friends and family—her “Gramma Jam” was much in demand at area holiday bazaars. When her daughters were growing up, the Heldke home was always a gathering place for their friends, and Carol spent many a late evening watching Saturday Night Live with the girls’ friends. She is survived by three daughters, Barbara Heldke (Jay Benjamin) of Red Hook, New York; Sybil Heldke of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Lisa Heldke (Peg O’Connor) of St. Peter, Minnesota; by two grandchildren, Emma and Max Gehrman; and by many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Richard; a sister, Bettie Peterson and a brother, Billie Coleman. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, May 1, 2010 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Rice Lake, Rev. Karen Johnson officiating, with interment in the Orchard Beach Cemetery in Rice Lake. Visitation will be from 4 - 7 PM Friday at Appleyard's Home for Funerals in Rice Lake and for one hour prior to the Funeral Service at the Church on Saturday.

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