Helen M. Merkel

Helen (Lewis) Merkel (nee Smith), age 83, of Portage, Indiana, passed away peacefully on June 29, 2023. She was born and raised in Hegewisch, Illinois, and went to CVS High School. Helen then moved to Whiting, Indiana, where she raised her six children. She was employed by Amaizo and later retired in Walkerton, Indiana. Helen loved listening to her gospel music, especially on Sundays; loved to read mysteries and her favorite was Stephen King. She loved to crochet and made many blankets for her children and grandchildren. Helen also loved to cross stitch and plastic canvas. One of her past time enjoyments was putting puzzles together with her children and grandchildren and she was a whiz at crossword puzzles and could finish them expeditiously. Her greatest joy in life was her children: Susan (Allen) Young, Deborah (Dave) Poleski, Ray (Caryl) Lewis, Jr., Linda (Dennis) Thompson, Kimberly Nordhoff, Sandra (Gene) Payton, and Stephanie Ahrens; twenty-two grandchildren; Daniel (Tracy) Banaszak, David (Marisa) Banaszak, Douglas Banaszak, Kristina Crawley, Matthew Thompson, Kimberly (Matt) Ballard, Rebecca Payton, Abigail Payton, Ashley Poleski, Victoria Poleski, Ryan Poleski, Jacob Headley, Charles (Diana) Popielarz, Audrey (Prudencio) Rodriguez, James Lewis, Ray Lewis, Allison Lewis, Lori Kluth, Emily Ahrens, Duane Ahrens, and Matthews Ahrens. She had 31 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. Helen also had 4 stepchildren, brother-in-law, many nieces and nephews, many great nieces and great nephews, and extended family whom she cared for deeply. Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Ronald D. Merkel Sr.; grandson, Joshua Headley; parents, Jessie and Edith Smith; two sisters: Patricia Kania and Elizabeth Bednarz; and beloved dog, Yogi. Friends may visit with family on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, at Burns Funeral Home & Crematory, 10101 Broadway, Crown Point, IN, from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, July 6, 2023, at Burns Funeral Home & Crematory, Crown Point, IN, at 10:00 am. Rev. Tom Shanahan officiating. Interment will take place at Hebron Cemetery in Hebron, Indiana. www.burnsfuneral.com

Helen M. Merkel

August 27, 1939 - June 29, 2023