Helen Gottschalk

Helen (Kropog) Gottschalk passed away in Pensacola, FL on Sept 3,2023. Helen was born on April 19, 1941 to Elizabeth (Jushasz) Kropog and Mike Kropog in Springfield, LA. After high school she began work at Piccadilly Cafeteria in Baton Rouge, where she met Leander Gottschalk. The two were married in February 1963 and spent 56 years together before Leander passed in 2019. They had 2 sons, Jeffery and Guy Gottschalk. 

Helen, also known as Mom, Polar Bear, Aunt Helen, Sister, and Mawmaw, was a devoted Christian.  Throughout her life she attended both Catholic Mass and Baptist Services. She participated in the Body of Christ until unable and then enjoyed home visits from Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, priests, pastors, and volunteers from various congregations she attended.

 She enjoyed spending time with family, fishing, and crocheting. She was known to travel to visit loved ones in various states by any means necessary. Anyone who knew Helen knew that when she put her mind to something she could not be deterred until she met her goal. She was proud of her family and in her later years had a rotation of daily phone calls to check in on family members, find out the day's happenings, and re-tell familiar stories.

Helen is predeceased by her parents, Mike and Elizabeth Kropog; her husband, Leander Gottschalk; her siblings: Mike Kropog, Steve Kropog, Joseph Kropog, John Kropog, Elizabeth Kropog Kelly, Pauline Kropog Martin Frisbie, William Kropog, George Kropog. She is survived by her brother Alex (Royanne) Kropog, her sons and their wives Jeffery (Lisa) Gottschalk and Guy (Deborah Walker) Gottschalk; Grandchildren Emily (Ryan) Patel, Brian Gottschalk, Mark (Fana van der Graaf) Gottschalk; great-grandchildren Thomas Patel, Sycamore Gottschalk, Attica Gottschalk, and Jeffery Patel; and a host of nieces, nephews and other extended family members.  

The family would like to thank Bayside Nursing and Rehab in Pensacola, FL, Emerald Coast Hospice, and the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion of St. Paul Catholic Church for their care of Helen. 

 Friday, Sept 15 at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Covington, LA  2:15 pm The Rosary will be said followed by a Funeral Mass at 3:00 pm, Visitation will follow at Bagnell and Sons Funeral Home from 4:30 - 6:30 pm. Saturday Sept 16 from 10-11am the family will receive visitors with service from 11:00 a.m. untill 11:30 am at Live Oak Missionary Baptist Church in Folsom, LA followed by interment at Bennett Cemetery. Reception to follow at AC and Maxie Gottschalk’s house.

Donations may be made in Helen’s name to Live Oak Missionary Baptist Church; 10174 Hereford Rd, Folsom, LA  70437 or St. Benedict Catholic Church;  20370 Smith Rd Covington, LA  70435;  or Hungarian Settlement Museum, Hammond, LA; P.O. Box 1909, Albany, LA  70711