At the age of 91, Helena Glauser Buehler's earthly life ended on February 5, 2009. Born on a cheese factory near South Wayne, to Swiss immigrants Fred and Elisa (Zumbrunnen) Glauser on March 12, 1917, she was the youngest of their three daughters. Helena grew up living on the Schumacher, Evergreen and Five Corner Cheese Factories and attended Green County Normal School. She graduated from Monroe High School in 1934 and from the Madison Academy of Beauty Culture and Cosmetology in 1939.
A life long member of St. John's United Church of Christ in Monroe, she was confirmed in 1933 and began singing in the Girl's Choir then. Eventually she spent more than 60 years singing in the Sanctuary Choir there. Helena and Robert G. Buehler were married at St. John's on September 28, 1941. Except for a short time spent living in Belvidere and Freeport Illinois, she made her home in Monroe her entire life.
As part of her Swiss heritage, she spent many happy hours at The Turner Hall of Monroe first as a lady gymnast and member of the Turnverein from 1934-1939, and then as a member of the Monroe Swiss Singers which she joined in 1969 to keep her Swiss language fluent. She later served as their treasurer for many years. Helena first marched in the Cheese Day Parade in 1939 as a gymnast and rode aboard a float as she portrayed "Helvetia" in 1955. She and her husband Bob were especially honored to serve as King and Queen of Cheese Days in 1984. Always proud of her Swiss ancestry, Helena served on several Cheese Days Committees and was an active member of the Swiss Club in Monroe. In her later years, she was made an honorary member of the New World Swiss Club.
Helena is survived by her daughters, Carole (Stephen) Steffel of Fishers, Indiana and Janet Buehler of Houston, Texas; her granddaughters, Jennifer Kubly of Indianapolis, Indiana and Valerie (Brian) Wenstrup of Zionsville, Indiana; and two great-granddaughters, Courtney and Reagan Wenstrup, also of Zionsville. She is also survived by her nephew, Fritz (Pamela) Reissner of Carmel, Indiana and two nieces, Lisa (Jack) Chiles of Indianapolis, Indiana and Patricia (Bob) Blakney of Anchorage, Alaska.
She was predeceased by her parents; her two sisters, Elisa Reissner and Lillian Thomason; her husband, Bob in 2001; and her first son-in-law, Gerald L. Kubly in 1988.
Helena was a devoted mother, loving grandmother and adoring great-grandmother known as Grandma Shatzi to her family. She spent the last four months of her long and blessed life being lovingly cared for by the doctors, nurses and staff at Woods Crossing in Brodhead, Wisconsin.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 14, at St. John's UCC. Calling will be from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 13, at Shriner-Hager-Gohlke Funeral Home in Monroe. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to St. John's United Church of Christ or The Turner Hall Foundation of Monroe.
A life long member of St. John's United Church of Christ in Monroe, she was confirmed in 1933 and began singing in the Girl's Choir then. Eventually she spent more than 60 years singing in the Sanctuary Choir there. Helena and Robert G. Buehler were married at St. John's on September 28, 1941. Except for a short time spent living in Belvidere and Freeport Illinois, she made her home in Monroe her entire life.
As part of her Swiss heritage, she spent many happy hours at The Turner Hall of Monroe first as a lady gymnast and member of the Turnverein from 1934-1939, and then as a member of the Monroe Swiss Singers which she joined in 1969 to keep her Swiss language fluent. She later served as their treasurer for many years. Helena first marched in the Cheese Day Parade in 1939 as a gymnast and rode aboard a float as she portrayed "Helvetia" in 1955. She and her husband Bob were especially honored to serve as King and Queen of Cheese Days in 1984. Always proud of her Swiss ancestry, Helena served on several Cheese Days Committees and was an active member of the Swiss Club in Monroe. In her later years, she was made an honorary member of the New World Swiss Club.
Helena is survived by her daughters, Carole (Stephen) Steffel of Fishers, Indiana and Janet Buehler of Houston, Texas; her granddaughters, Jennifer Kubly of Indianapolis, Indiana and Valerie (Brian) Wenstrup of Zionsville, Indiana; and two great-granddaughters, Courtney and Reagan Wenstrup, also of Zionsville. She is also survived by her nephew, Fritz (Pamela) Reissner of Carmel, Indiana and two nieces, Lisa (Jack) Chiles of Indianapolis, Indiana and Patricia (Bob) Blakney of Anchorage, Alaska.
She was predeceased by her parents; her two sisters, Elisa Reissner and Lillian Thomason; her husband, Bob in 2001; and her first son-in-law, Gerald L. Kubly in 1988.
Helena was a devoted mother, loving grandmother and adoring great-grandmother known as Grandma Shatzi to her family. She spent the last four months of her long and blessed life being lovingly cared for by the doctors, nurses and staff at Woods Crossing in Brodhead, Wisconsin.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 14, at St. John's UCC. Calling will be from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 13, at Shriner-Hager-Gohlke Funeral Home in Monroe. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to St. John's United Church of Christ or The Turner Hall Foundation of Monroe.