Lord Burr, HelenHelen Lord Burr passed away peacefully with all six of her children at her bedside on the afternoon of September 30th, 2017 at Evergreen Manor in Oshkosh. Helen was very involved in her community especially the Salvation Army after her first husband, Edward's death. Regretfully Ed's life was cut short in 1972 at the age of 48. Ed advised her prior to his death that when she was lonely to do something for others and Helen truly took his advice to heart. Year after year she was by far the top producer in the Red Kettle campaign at Christmas time. Helen strongly encouraged local business owners and executives to deposit a check on Christmas Eve when their contribution would be matched by Oshkosh Truck. There was many times when a business check was hurriedly deposited in her kettle late on Christmas Eve afternoon. She was featured more than once on local television as she continued to ring bells all day each Christmas eve till the age of 93. She served on the Salvation Army Board for many years and was honored with an award named and given in her honor each year, The Helen Lord Burr Award. She was very active in her church serving as a Deacon and Church Council member, the Evergreen Manor Retirement Board, past President of the Ladies Benevolent Society, and a volunteer coordinator for the E.A.A. Where she earned the E.A.A. President's Award and the Henry Kimberly Spirit of Leadership Award. The Boy Scouts were another passion having served as a Den mother and den leader coach, on the Executive Board and as a unit commissioner. She earned the District Award of Merit, the George Nevitt award, as well as the Silver Fawn. In May, 2000 she was recognized with the Home Town Hero award during a legislative session in the state capital in Madison. She was born on May 16th, 1923 in Oshkosh at home on the family farm to Fred and Marie Gafner. Helen took pride that her family was able to be largely self-sustaining through the Depression by producing their own produce, dairy and meat products. Her childhood provided her with skills of self-reliance she relied throughout her life. Her parents were Swiss immigrants and Helen only spoke Swiss when she started to attend South Park School. She graduated from Oshkosh High school in 1941, the first of her 7 siblings to do so when it was common for education to end after the 8th grade.Immediately after her graduation she found employment as a secretary at Oshkosh Truck Corporation. Only a few months later World War 2 began and Helen was able to quickly rise in the company as many employees left to join the war effort.Helen met and fell in love in 1947 with her future husband, Edward George Lord, a WW2 veteran where he served as a paratrooper. They were married on April 16th, 1949 at Emmanuel Evangelical and Reformed Church (now Emmanuel United church of Christ). Shortly after their wedding Ed attended Mortuary school in Milwaukee. There first child Mary was born in 1951, Donn in 1953, Steve in 1955, Carol in 1957. With much sorrow, a daughter Janet was born in 1958 but died shortly after birth. They were blessed with two more children James in 1960 and Edward Jr. in 1963.Ed and a fellow mortuary school student and friend Steve Kircher, purchased the Marquardt Funeral Home in 1955. While Helen and Ed were busy raising their family, the mortuary business grew and gained a reputation for the highest standards of integrity and compassionate service. Helen took over Ed's half of the business upon his death until selling it in 1979. She then worked at Poklasny Funeral Home until her retirement at 73 in 1996. Helen married Guy Whitney Burr in 1975, a fellow OHS 1941 classmate. Helen and Guy shared a special bond and a very happy marriage. They particularly enjoyed traveling including several trips to her family's homeland Switzerland. After Guy's death in 1999, Helen again picked up the pieces and started life anew. She loved to cook large family meals having cooked and baked for a family of 8 for so many years. Helen began her Monday night suppers and had an open invite to come to supper. Her family style meals caught on and many times 20 to 30 came for dinner on a Monday night. These was special times and a great time of healing after Guy's death with Helen now living alone in the family home.With all the recognition she received for her work in her church and community Helen would always say her greatest pride was in being a mother and home maker. She made the family home in a modest duplex that she purchased with Ed in 1960 for 11,000 dollars. She lived there for 57 years until earlier this year when her declining health precipitated her move to Evergreen Manor. She could have well afforded to purchase or build a new home but the old duplex was home to her family. Many in our family can't remember ever celebrating Christmas and Thanksgiving anywhere else but there. Thankfully the home where a family of 8 once resided was large and could easily accommodate family gatherings of her now large extended family including her 6 children, 13 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. When her youngest son, Edward left for college in 1982 she kept the upper apartment open for the next 35 years. As she often said for "when the kids come home" and come home they often did as well as other family members and friends. My mother's home could have been better described as a Drop In Center. It was not uncommon when you came to visit that there were 2 or 3 people there that had already dropped in prior to you. Visits typically began and ended with the previous visitor's departure and another's arrival. As the holidays approach this will be the first time in over a half century where my mother will not be hosting our large family Thanksgiving and Christmas celebration in our family home. Family, friends, and others whose lives Helen touched are invited to call at the Poklasny Funeral Home from 5 PM - 8 PM on Wednesday, October 4, 2017 and from 10 AM to the time of the funeral at 11 AM at Emmanuel United Church of Christ to celebrate Helen's incredible life. A meal will be served in the church Fellowship Hall immediately following the service. Committal at Lake View Memorial park will follow at 2 PM. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Helen's name.Helen was preceded in death by her parents and siblings Jacob, Fred, Walter and Marie. Her brother Arnold, and sisters, Ruth and Florence survive as well as her extended family:ChildrenMary Lord Janness, Menasha, WIDonn Lord (Rose), Oshkosh, WI Stephen Lord (Teri), Oshkosh, WICarol Lord (Edward Muzik), Milwaukee, WIJames Lord, Minneapolis, MNEdward G Lord, Jr. (Terri), Peachtree City, GAStep-daughterPamela Gust (James), Oshkosh, WIGrandchildrenJennipher Janness, Menasha, WIJonathan Janness, Menasha, WIEric Lord (Tina), Oshkosh, WINicole Lord Kuhn (Adam) St. Petersburg, FLBrandon Nielson (Ashley), Neenah, WIKatie Wormuth, Oshkosh, WIKatie Lord, Minneapolis, MNElla Lord, Minneapolis, MNAmelia Lord, Peachtree City, GACaroline Lord, Peachtree City, GAEdward Lord, III, Peachtree City, GAJeni Gust Faust(Mike), Oshkosh, WIJason Gust (Annee) Colorado Springs, COGreat GrandchildrenSirena Jording, Appleton, WITeagan Janness-Jording, Menasha, WIKayLyn Smith, Oshkosh, WIKory Lord, Oshkosh, WIBrandon Oakley-Janness, Menasha, WIEdie Kuhn, St Petersburg, FLHenry Kuhn, St. Petersburg, FLAddison Griffin, Oshkosh, WIMatthew Faust, Oshkosh, WIMark Faust, Oshkosh, WIGreat-great GrandchildRylan Smith, Oshkosh, WI