Helen J. Goswitz, 88, of Manitowoc, passed away following a long illness on Thursday, February 11, 2021 at the Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice in Sheboygan Falls.

Helen was born on May 20, 1932 in Shawano to the late Charles and Margaret Wood. She spent her youth growing up on a farm in Shawano and two years near Washington, D.C. during WWII.  After graduating high school in Shawano, Helen attended Marquette University where she earned a degree in Zoology along with her teaching certification.  She taught high school biology at St. Joseph's Academy in Green Bay in the 1950s. While at Marquette, Helen met her ex-husband and father of her children, Dr. John T. Goswitz of Manitowoc. Helen spent the early 1960s living in Germany as an Army doctor's wife while raising her three children. After a short stay in Mankato, MN, she moved to Manitowoc in 1966 where she resided until her death. In the 1970s, Helen was one of the first volunteers to sponsor a Laotian refugee family in Manitowoc County.  She also began a multi-decade career working in the Manitowoc Public School District as a substitute teacher and library aide.

Helen loved corresponding with a lifetime of friends and relatives the world over. In the 2000s, she researched and compiled a family tree going back to the Revolutionary War that will be donated to the Shawano Historical Society. While compiling the family tree, Helen was so intrigued to learn about her cousin Orle Bergner, a WWII silver star decorated Marine, that she researched and wrote a second volume exclusively about him. She also loved reading, gardening, travel, playing cards, sewing, and was a life-long Catholic.

Helen carried herself with grace and dignity and met several other health issues with great resolve and perseverance. She will be missed by her friends and family.

Survivors include Helen's three children, Mark Goswitz, Sheboygan; Anne Douglas, Austin, TX; and Paul Goswitz, Manitowoc; two grand-daughters, Sandra Douglas, Austin, TX, and Nicole Douglas, San Antonio, TX, sister, Genevieve DeWilde, Green Bay; and niece, Denise Fonferek, Sobieski.

A visitation and memorial service will be held at St. Francis of Assisi on Waldo, 1121 North 14 ^th Street, Manitowoc in the summer of 2021.  Once dates and times are established, an updated obituary will be published in the Herald Times Reporter and www.harriganparksidefuneralhome.com .  Cremation has taken place at the Harrigan Parkside Crematory and Chapel with burial of Helen's cremated remains at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Shawano.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorials in Helen's name to be sent to Roncalli High School, 2000 Mirro Drive, Manitowoc, WI 54220.

The Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home and Crematory, North 11 ^th and St. Clair streets, Manitowoc is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.