Helen Marie Zych, age 70, of Oregon, Wis., longtime resident of Cameron, Wis., died Thursday, June 22, 2023, at UnityPoint Health - Meriter Hospital in Madison, Wis.

She was born on March 1,1953, in Kalamazoo, Mich., to Marvin and Dorothy (Plews) Zimmerman. She soon moved to Cameron, Wis., where one summer day, she caught the attention of a sixth-grade boy who biked by her front-yard kickball game. After a few passes on his newfound daily route, she let that boy nose his way into her match. Their match remained for nearly 60 years. Helen married Edward Zych June 29, 1974, in Rice Lake, Wis. They soon started a family of their own. Helping others was her profession and her pastime. She worked as a dental assistant for many years for Dr. Brekke in Rice Lake and Dr. Cooley in Cameron. She cooked meals as a church volunteer. She was a poll worker on Election Day. She sewed, quilted, gardened, cooked, baked, and canned. She rarely did them for herself. Helen loved her family, who described her has their backbone, more than anything. If her children or grandchildren were on a baseball field, softball field, basketball court, a stage, or just playing in the yard, she rarely missed an event.

She is survived by her husband, Edward Zych; a son, Josh (Angela) Zych; 2 daughters, Stephanie (Kyle) Kampschroer and Tara (Paul) Groessel; 8 wonderful grandchildren, Carly, Emma, and Drew Zych, Anthony, Graham, Amalia, and Felix Kampschroer, and Charlotte Groessel; a sister, Karen (David) Erickson; 3 brothers, David (Lori) Zimmerman, Dale Zimmerman, and Dennis Zimmerman (Doran Runice); sister in-law, Mona Anderson; sister in-law, Evone Zych; brother in-law Ted (Linda) Zych; sister in-law Harriet (Al) Gould; brother in-law Frank Zych (Jim Fouts); many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Marvin and Dorothy Zimmerman; mother in-law Harriet Zych; father in-law Frank Zych; brother in-law Dennis Zych; brother in-law John Anderson; niece Bailey Zimmerman.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, June 26, 2023, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Cameron, Wis., with interment in Pine Grove Cemetery in Cameron. Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. Sunday at Appleyard’s Home for Funeral in Rice Lake, Wis., and for one hour prior to the funeral service at the church. There will be a Rosary Service at 6:45 p.m. Sunday at Appleyard’s Home for Funerals.

Last Update: Jun 25, 2023 1:32 pm CDT