GREENFIELD – Helen Belzer was a great person, who enjoyed life to the fullest.  Helen Mary Belzer (nee Jartz) was born in Herminie, Pennsylvania on July 21, 1915 to Slovene immigrant parents, Peter Jartz (born in Crna Vas, Slovenia) and Johanna Artac Jartz (born in Podpec, Slovenia).  Helen enjoyed helping locate information concerning her family tree; it was interesting to learn that her father arrived in the United States in 1901 on board a ship named the S.S. Rhein; the ship came from the area of Carniola.  Peter’s occupation was listed as farmer; he was 30 years of age and he had $12.00 with him as he set off to join her brother, Joseph, in Leadville, Colorado, where they would work at a smelter.  Peter and his wife, Johanna, were the parents of Johanna “Jennie”, Ludwig “Lud”, Josephine “Pepsa”, Margaret “Margie”, and Helen.  Peter moved from Leadville, Colorado, to Herminie, Pennsylvania where his children were born; and finally located to Cleveland, Ohio.  He left mining behind him because it was deemed too dangerous a job; he worked for Ford Motor in Cleveland.  Helen lived through the ‘Great Depression’ and she never forgot how hard life was back then and how the bank failed where her parents’ money was located. 

Helen was a “Rosie the Riviter” during World War II; she worked for General Electric in Cleveland, Ohio where she assembled “M.O.” molybdenum bulbs for the war effort.  It was through a fellow employee that she met and later married Chester Belzer, who was serving in the U.S. Navy during the War.  They were married in Covington, Kentucky on February 13, 1946; they were married for 47 years.  They eventually became the parents of two daughters, Elayne and Holly.  Helen and Chet made their home in the Cleveland, Ohio area.  Helen helped out wherever she was needed.  During the Viet Nam Era, she made body bags that were used to bring our fallen soldiers home.  Sometime during the 1980’s, they moved to the warmer climate of Clearwater, Florida, where her youngest daughter, Holly, was living.  Helen’s husband died in 1993 and she remained in Florida.  All through her life, Helen was an avid reader; however, wet macular degeneration robbed her of her eyesight and she became legally blind.  In September 2004, Helen left Florida and moved into her daughter, Elayne’s, home in Greenfield, Indiana.  It should be noted that Helen and Elayne left the airport in Florida as a hurricane was approaching the area!  Airports were being closed, but they made it out of the area just in time.  Helen loved her life in Greenfield; she loved going on trips with the Pat Elmore Senior Center, working with daughter, Elayne, with projects for PAWS and the Hancock County Historical Society and Animal Control.  She loved helping with the garden, cooking, and baking.  She was most proud of the fact that she won 3^rd place in a cookie contest through the local newspaper in 2005.

Family was important to Helen.  She was responsible for many a fond memory that carries on in her children’s and grandchildren’s hearts and minds.  She loved music; she claimed to know the words to every song!  She was usually the oldest person doing the funky chicken at large family gatherings.  Helen loved teaching her great grandchildren the words and motions to old nursery rhymes and the old Christmas song “Up on the Rooftop Reindeer Paws.”  Several nieces and nephews recently have called her to let her know that she was responsible for so many of their happy memories while she and Chet lived in Cleveland.  Helen knew exactly how to liven up a party or family gathering with her singing, dancing, or eventual talk about politics.  Helen was most proud of one of final accomplishments in life; she voted while at home due to advanced illness.  She told people that she was afraid that she might die before knowing the results of the last Presidential election on November 4, 2008.  When she was diagnosed with cancer in July 2008, she said that she didn’t want a bunch of sad faces around her.  Helen directed her family members in the way that they should conduct themselves during her illness; she remained upbeat at all times.  Her direction helped the family survive a most unhappy period.

Helen is survived by daughter, Elayne Stewart/Jack Stewart of Greenfield; granddaughters, Jolie Larsen/Gary Larsen of Beloit, Wisconsin; Kimberly Wall/Jeff Wall of Winfield, Illinois; grandson, Mark Stewart/Majbritt of Racine, Wisconsin; great-granddaughters, Danika and Devin Stewart, also of Racine, Wisconsin; by daughter, Holly Isaacs, of Dunedin, Florida; granddaughter, Rochelle Morrissey of Ozona, Florida; grandson, Richard Silliman of Florida, and great-granddaughter, Jenna Silliman of Ozona, Florida. 

Because of Helen’s love of reading, listening to books on tape, and her fondness of libraries, it is requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the Hancock County Public Library.

Visitation will be held on Friday, November 14, from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m. at Erlewein Mortuary in Greenfield.  A celebration of Helen’s rich life will follow at 2:00 p.m.  Reverend John Young will officiate.  Friends may sign the online guestbook at www.erleweinmortuary.com or e-mail condolences to sympathy@erleweinmortuary.com.