Helen E. Wade

Helen E. Wade (Stookey), age 95, of Grand Rapids, entered Eternal Life on Sunday October 13, 2019.  She joins her husband of 63 years, Claude “Mike” Wade and their son David Michael, deceased in infancy.  She is survived by her daughter Laura (Thomas) Walstad; granddaughters, Jennifer (Tim) Walker and Sarah (Adam) Lewis, and great granddaughter Eva Jean, a sister Imogene Whiteleather and nieces and nephews.  She is also predeceased by two sisters Esther McIntosh and Louise Raber. 

Helen was a quiet woman of great integrity and compassion; filled with a deep faith and love of her family.  Helen and Mike married in Indiana while Mike was attending Purdue University and she was working in the agronomy department at Purdue.  Together they hand built their first home on Reeds Lake Boulevard in East Grand Rapids, where they lived for 50+ years before moving to Porter Hills Village.  Helen enjoyed working at the East Grand Rapids High School for 23 years in the front office.  After their retirement, Helen and Mike actively volunteered at Frederik Meijer Gardens. 

Helen took pride in her gardening, interior design, and especially her family – grandchildren and great grandchild.  Helen attended Eastminster Presbyterian Church and later First United Methodist Church. 

As a family they traveled and camped extensively throughout the United States.  In their retirement Mike and Helen enjoyed taking trips to many parts of Europe. 

Helen loved music and played piano by ear from the time she was a little girl.  She recorded a CD of her favorites including “My Love For You” that she wrote and composed for her husband Mike.  Helen and Mike supported and attended the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra for many years. 

Recently, she greatly enjoyed meeting her two granddaughters husbands, Tim and Adam and her great granddaughter, Eva Jean.

A memorial service will be held on Friday November 15, 2019 at 2:00 P.M. at The Meeting House at Porter Hills.  Those desiring, may make memorial contributions to the Grand Rapids Symphony, Frederik Meijer Gardens or Emmanuel Hospice in memory of Helen E. Wade. 

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