HELEN M. ZAIGER

June 7, 1924 - February 14, 2019

HELEN M. ZAIGER Helen M.Zaiger, age 94, of Caledonia, passed away peacefully Thursday, February 14, 2019 at Tweeten Gundersen Health Care Center in Spring Grove, MN. Helen was born June 7, 1924 in Athens, WI, to Joseph and Celia (Rhode) Hon. Helen's mother died when she was 4 years old and Helen was placed in an orphanage with some of her siblings in La Crosse, WI for 8 years. She was adopted by Helen and Bill Flannery of Hokah. In November of 1946 she married John Zaiger in LaCrosse and John passed away in 1983. In Helen's early years she worked at Benson's Optical and the Tosa Club in LaCrosse. John and Helen moved to a farm in Hokah, MN in 1949 and farmed until 1975, and then moved to Caledonia. Helen worked for Rush Products for 25 years. She loved her family, animals, doing jigsaw puzzles, reading and of course, BINGO. Even though she couldn't drive, she was always able to get where she wanted to go. She is survived by her 6 children, John Zaiger, JoAnn Welsh, Shirlee Lenser, Carol (Robert) Verthein, Linda Esch, and Mary Ann (Kurt) Christian; 13 grandchildren, Bob Kuecker, Lori Kuecker, Kathy Welsh, Jim Welsh, Bobbie Jo Verthein,Mike Verthein, Darryl Esch, Mark Esch, Chris Zaiger, Angie Tenkley, Holly Burrichter, Brooke Christian, and Jesse Christian; and 18 great Grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; twin sister, Mary; sister, Sr.Elizabeth Hon, and 3 brothers. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 am on Tuesday, Feb. 19th, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Caledonia. Father Steven Abaukaka will officiate and burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Caledonia. Visitation will be from 10-11 am Tuesday morning before the service at the church.