Obituary of Helen Spear
Houghton
Helen Spear, 65, a resident of Houghton passed away suddenly Wednesday January 20, 2016, at UP Health System Marquette, where she had been undergoing aortic heart valve replacement surgery.
She was born on April 25, 1950, in L’Anse, MI, a daughter of Thelma (Pesonen) Turpeinen and the late Reuben Turpeinen. Following her graduation from L’Anse High School (Class of 1968), she attended Suomi (Finlandia) College.
After college Helen was employed at Superior National Bank, where she met her husband, Donald Spear. The couple united in marriage on May 7, 1975. They built a house in Houghton where they raised their two children, Shawn and Jessica.
In 1980, Donald and Helen purchased Brown Auto Parts in Hancock. Helen specialized in bookkeeping and office management while Donald concentrated on sales and management of the store. Together they were an excellent team, and their business expanded to include a store in Baraga. In 1992 they sold the auto parts stores, but continued to keep busy with commercial and residential rental properties.
In 1986, after a horseback riding accident left Donald partially paralyzed, Helen cared for him throughout his illness until his death on December 23, 2014.
Helen was physically active her entire life. She enjoyed running, walking, biking, cross country skiing and downhill skiing. She was an active member of Grace United Methodist Church of Houghton.
In June of 2015, Helen ran into former high school classmate Jim Maki of Aura, MI and Laguna Niguel, CA, and began dating shortly thereafter. Jim and Helen brought each other a great deal of joy, laughter and companionship in the last six months of her life.
Helen was a genuinely kind, thoughtful and loving person who brightened the lives of all she came across. Her uplifting spirit will be sorely missed by her family, friends and all who knew her.
Surviving are:
Her children: Shawn Spear of Chicago, IL
Jessica (Sean) Gohman of Hancock, MI
Her mother: Thelma Turpeinen of Baraga, MI
Her sisters and brothers: Barb (Ken) Herkey of Cheektowaga, NY
Don (Sandy) Turpeinen of Baraga, MI
Donna Turpeinen of L’Anse, MI
John (Barb) Turpeinen of Pelkie, MI
Diane (Greg) Besse of Gladstone, MI
Numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
A special friend: Jim Maki of Aura, MI and Laguna Niguel, CA
Funeral services for Helen will be held 11 am Monday January 25, 2016, at Grace United Methodist Church of Houghton, with Rev. Chuck Williams to officiate. Spring burial will be in the Forest Hill Cemetery of Houghton.
Friends may call on Monday January 25, 2016, from 10am until time of services at Grace United Methodist Church of Houghton.
In lieu of flowers or gifts the family requests that donations be made to the Omega House, Grace United Methodist Church of Houghton or the Inter-Lutheran Theological Seminary of Hancock.
To view Helen’s obituary or to send condolences to the family please visit www.memorialchapel.net.
The Memorial Chapel & Plowe Funeral homes have been assisting the family with the arrangements.