Helen Hauck

Helen E. Hauck will be remembered as a devoted wife and mother who was very supportive of her children in all that they did. 1934 was an exciting year to be an American. As Franklin Delano Roosevelt worked to lead our country out of economic hardship, great innovations in science and technology led to medical advances in the U.S. and abroad. It was in that year that Madame Curie created the first radioactive substance that would eventually lead to x-ray machines. It was in this great era of discovery that Burt and Etta Mae (Hicks) Dyer of Madison, Alabama found their own reason to celebrate. On February 26, 1934 their first daughter Helen E. Hauck was born. Helen’s arrival came as a bit of a surprise to her mother and father. Though they had been awaiting her birth for months, they expected her to be born on March 15th. Instead, their daughter entered the world a few weeks early. Her mother remembers that she was a tiny little girl, but as she grew and walked she became very pretty. Etta Mae adored her curly hair so much that she never cut it and instead decided to let it grow into long beautiful curls. With Helen’s sweet disposition she brought great joy to her family. Etta Mae mentioned how she had a lovely singing voice and was friendly with everyone she met; however, although she loved everyone, it was apparent that she was a daddy’s girl, and everyone knew that she had Burt wrapped around her little finger. When asked to recall a special memory about Helen’s childhood, her mother often said she couldn’t. There were just too many special things about her. Etta Mae recalled, “I can’t name one special thing. I knew I loved her.” In order to support a family that would soon grow to include three more children including: Jack, Marjorie (Marge) and Lila, Burt worked as a farmer, while Etta Mae stayed at home to raise the children. As the kids grew, the family relocated to Hartford, Michigan. While in Hartford, Helen attended Hartford High School, where she enjoyed cheerleading for the school sports’ teams, and at a time when many young women were leaving school after the eighth grade, Helen continued with her education and graduated high school in 1952. After finishing school, Helen married a man named John Hauck and during their 24 years of marriage they had three children: Lynn, William, and Richard. Helen was a devoted mother and although she raised her children while moving from place to place including areas around the state of Michigan, Ohio, and North Carolina, she provided a stable and loving environment for her children. As the family moved, Helen worked at various jobs to support her kids. With her sharp eye for detail and organization, she was an excellent secretary and held secretarial positions in the various places they lived. During her time in Ohio she excelled so much at her job as a legal secretary that she won the “Kelly Girl of the Year” award for her efforts. One of her favorite jobs was working as an administrative assistant in Sault Ste Marie, MI. Helen liked the area very much and enjoyed attending Sault Ste. Marie United Methodist Church, while she lived in the area. When she wasn’t busy working, Helen was also active in several service organizations that were very special to her including The Red Cross, Gazelles, War Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and the Sault Ste Marie Country Club. Despite her various activities, it was certain that her family was the center of her life and she enjoyed spending time with them and traveling to various vacation destinations with the kids as they grew up. After her marriage ended in 1979 Helen moved from her home in Cincinnati, Ohio to live with her sister Marjorie in Dexter, Michigan. While living in Dexter, Helen found a job as an administrative assistant at the University of Michigan’s Women’s Hospital. She truly enjoyed her job and continued to work there until her retirement in 1996. During her time at U of M, she made many friends and received excellent reviews from her coworkers. In 1981 Helen was introduced to a man named Lynn Griffiths. Soon after meeting they began to date and their friendship grew into a lasting companionship. Over their many years together they became true soul mates. Together the two enjoyed many pastimes. As her caregiver during her eight-year decline in health, Lynn was devoted to Helen to the end. A true Wolverine Fan, Helen held season tickets for Michigan Football games. A sports enthusiast she also enjoyed NASCAR racing, fishing, and golfing. Sometimes, however, when she wanted to relax she would enjoy making crafts, camping, or playing bridge. A true craftsperson, Helen built and collected miniatures for her dollhouse, which she greatly cherished. With her great sense of style, she also amassed a beautiful collection of antique furniture. Though these various hobbies kept her busy, she still enjoyed traveling throughout her entire life, and she and Lynn spent a great deal of time traveling around Florida and Alabama’s coastal areas. It is not surprising that she enjoyed the warmth that these southern states offered. Spring and summer were her favorite seasons, because she loved to see all the beautiful flowers in bloom. She favored white tulips and grew a variety of roses in her garden and loved to get out of her house and take care of them all season long. After seventy years of a life filled with loving memories, Helen E. Hauck, passed away on Wednesday, December 22, 2004. She will be greatly missed by her three children, Lynn (Jack) Jennings, William (Danielle) Hauck and Richard (Lawanna) Hauck; seven grandchildren, David and Amanda Jennings, Allison, Sarah, Grace, Amber, and Travis Hauck; her mother, Etta Mae Dyer; two sisters, Marjorie MacKenzie and Lila Michael, and her companion and soul mate of 23 years Lynn Griffiths; his children, Terri (Kurt) Anderson and Anthony Griffiths and two grandchildren, Anna and Charlie Anderson, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father and her brother Jack. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, December 29, 2004 from 12:00-1:00 p.m. at the Nie Life Story Funeral Home, 2400 Carpenter Rd. A memorial service will follow at 1:00 p.m. with Rev. Thomas Humphreys officiating. Please visit Helen’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can read her life story, leave a memory or make a memorial contribution to SAFE House, P. O. Box 7052, Ann Arbor, MI 48107.