Helga Ruth Gutmann Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Helga Ruth Gutmann passed away peacefully in her home on February 26, surrounded by loved ones. Born June 2, 1923 in Iserlohn, Germany, Helga Straus and her family fled the Nazis, arriving in the United States in 1940. Just sixteen, not speaking a word of English and having left everything she knew behind, Helga would face many hardships as she began her life anew. A chance encounter in 1944 brought her together with Fritz Gutmann, a fellow German-Jewish immigrant and sergeant in the United States Army. Married that same year, they would remain inseparable for the next 62. Together, they built both a successful business and a beautiful family spanning four generations. In the good times, and the bad, Helga was always one to turn to her friends, both old and new. She spent many hours schmoozing with them, and stayed connected, no matter the distance. Many of those friendships lasted more than fifty years, while others developed more recently. Two that were particularly special to her, Sylvia and Martha, began as her caregivers, but saw her through her final years in ways that only loving friends can. Helga was preceded in death by her husband Fritz, son Melvin, and brother Siegbert. She is survived by her daughters, Barbara (Arnold) and Diane (Thomas); daughters-in-law, Phyllis Gutmann and Wendy Kupfer; grandchildren, Steven (Kimberly), Michael (Jill), Eric, Darren (Susanne), Lori (Tony), Stacey (Michael), Daniel (Kathryn) and David; and 16 great-grandchildren. She was deeply loved by all and will be forever missed for her warmth, strength, compassion, generosity and strong opinions. May her memory be for a blessing. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation to your favorite charity, or to one of the following: Adolph & Rose Levis Jewish Community Center (levisjcc.org); the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (www.ushmm.org); or Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation (www.alzinfo.org). Please click link to view service: http://www.livestreamyourmemorial.com/memorial-1/

Helga Ruth Gutmann

June 2, 1923 - February 26, 2021