Helen P. Markese, age 85, a lifelong resident of Kenosha, Wisconsin and recently of Plainfield, Illinois, died Thursday, December 20 in Oswego, Illinois. She was born on April 9, 1922 in Kenosha to Serefina and Amelia Mazzei.
Helen was a graduate of Kenosha Vocational School in 1940. On January 31, 1942 she married her childhood sweetheart, Ralph Markese, in Kenosha. Together they were very active in the First Assembly of God Church in Kenosha for over 50 years, where they served as youth leaders, led the Sr. Ministry "Young at Heart", conducted services at the Kenosha Care Center and where she sang in the choir. They also were a part of the Prayer House with Pastor Ron Auch, an Assembly of God church plant on the north side of Kenosha.
She retired as a supervisor at the Great Lakes Naval Base after 20 years of services. Previously she had worked at American Motors and Coopers.
She accepted Jesus Christ as her savior as a young child and served Him her whole life. Her greatest passions were serving the Lord, the church and loving and caring for her family.
Helen is survived by her husband of 66 years, Ralph, two children, Janice (Rev. Norman) Whitney of Seattle, and Rev. Ron (Krisan) Markese of Plainfield, IL, six grandchildren, Bradley Whitney, Tamra (Rev. Ron) Heitman, David (Marcy) Markese, Elisabeth (David) Lively, Stephanie markese and Mychal Markese, and eight great-grandchildren. She is also survived by a sister, Esther Militello of AZ and a brother, Richard (Lorraine) Mazzei of Keosha. She was preceded in death by her parents and one son, Rev. David Markese in 1999.
A funeral service will be held on Thursday, December 27 at 11:00 a.m. at First Assembly of God Church, 10700 Seventy Fifth Street, Kenosha, Wisconsin 53142, with Pastor Norm Whitney officiating. Friends may visit with the family from 9:00 until the service begins. Interment will follow at Sunset Ridge Memorial Park in Kenosha.
Memorials may be directed to the missions and outreach of First Assembly of God in Kenosha or the Prayer House.
Family and friends may sign a guest book at www.christianfuneralservices.com. For more information, please call Christian Funeral Services at 877-771-4513.