HELEN M. WELLNITZ WITTKER

Strong City Helen Wittker, age 79, died Friday, May 14, 2010, at Madonna Rehabilitation Center in Lincoln, NE. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, at 10:00 A.M., Thursday, May 20, 2010, in Emporia, KS. The Celebrant will be Father Richard Warsnak. Burial will follow at Hillside Cemetery in Toledo Township, KS. Helen Marie Wellnitz, the daughter of Albert and Anna Behnert Wellnitz, was born February 2, 1931, at the family farm in rural Emporia, KS. She graduated from Emporia High School and went to business school for two years. She worked at Flemings Food Distribution in Topeka as a bookkeeper. She and Joseph Frederick "Fred" Wittker were married August 30, 1954, in Emporia, KS. They lived on a farm in the Toledo area in Chase County. He died July 7, 1982. She was a homemaker/farmer/rancher/bookkeeper for the farm operation. In 1980, she was made a general partner with Wittker Farms. She is survived by a son, Howard of the home in rural Strong City and a brother, George Wellnitz of Neosho Rapids, KS. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and a brother, Francis Wellnitz. The family will meet friends Wednesday, from 6:00 until 7:30 P.M. at the Brown-Bennett-Alexander Funeral Home. The rosary, led by Father Richard Warsnak, will follow the visitation. Friends may call Wednesday, 9:00 A.M. until 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions have been designated to the Madonna Foundation for Children’s Rehabilitation Program and may be sent in care of the funeral home, 201 Cherry, Cottonwood Falls, KS. 66845. Messages to the family may be left at www.brown-bennett-alexander.com.