Helen M. Ackerman

Helen M. Ackerman, 90, of Bucyrus died Tuesday night, April 24, 2012 at the Cleveland Clinic.

She was born June 1, 1921 in Crawford County to the late Arthur and Nellie (Lerch) Reiff. Helen graduated from Holmes-Liberty in 1939. Following her graduation, she studied music for a year at Oberlin College. During her senior year of high school, Helen met Quentin "Bud" Ackerman through a blind date set up by Bud's sister who, at that time, was secretary at Holmes-Liberty. Thus began a four-year courtship culminating in marriage on February 28, 1943. Helen was Bud's war bride as they were married while he was on leave from the Army. Bud's expected short term duty turned into nearly three years of separation overseas but they have been together ever since with Bud describing 69 years of marriage as "perfect."

Helen is survived by her husband; their children, Jeannene (Lyle Brostrom) Ackerman of Lafayette, Ind. and Charles (Kathy) Ackerman of Cardington; grandchildren, Stephanie (Ryan) Rose, Matthew Ackerman and Michael Ackerman; great grandson, Tyler Rose; sister, Lois Zucker of Bucyrus and a number of nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Robert Reiff and aunts and uncles, with whom she was very close.

Music was very important to Helen. She began teaching piano while still in high school and continued instructing hundreds of students in piano and organ over the years from her home. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Bucyrus, serving as choir director for about 10 years in the late 1960's and early 70's. Later in life, she played the organ for the First Christian Church until 2010. Helen was very active in Bucyrus Chapter #3 Order of the Eastern Star primarily as organist. She was past Worthy Matron of the Bucyrus Chapter and in 1989 the Grand Organist for the state of Ohio Order of the Eastern Star. During her year as Grand Organist, she played all over the state including on Ohio's largest organ.

She was a charter member of the Crawford County Community Concert Association and enjoyed hosting various artists from the CCCCA stage in her home. She was active with the Ladies' Shrine in Bucyrus and also a member of Thea Court, No.5 Ladies' Oriental Shrine in Columbus.

Helen will be remembered for her green thumb and beautiful flower gardens, both at her Bucyrus home, and summer home in Canada, where she enjoyed fishing, boating and early evening paddleboat rides. She will also be remembered as a great hostess and a first-class cook. Helen was a loving and caring mother and grandmother as well as a strong and determined woman, having survived breast cancer for more than 50 years and putting up a valiant fight with her most recent bout with multiple myeloma.

Funeral and OES services for Helen will be held Saturday, April 28 at 1:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Bucyrus with Rev. Stanley Walters officiating. Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery. Friends may call at the church two hours prior to the funeral, from 11:30-1:30. Memorial donations may be made to Cleveland Clinic Myeloma Research Fund, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, PO Box 931517, Cleveland, OH 44193-1655 or through Wise Funeral Service.



Visitation:

Saturday, April 28, 2012 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

First Presbyterian Church, 125 S. Poplar St., Bucyrus, Ohio 44820



Service:

Saturday, April 28, 2012 1:30 p.m.

First Presbyterian Church, 125 S. Poplar St., Bucyrus, Ohio 44820



Cemetery:

Oakwood Cemetery, 835 Kaler Ave., Bucyrus, Ohio 44820