Helen Oberlin

Helen was born on Aug.10, 1933, in Imlay City, Mich., daughter of the late Rev. Albert and Irene (Foster) Stover. She graduated from Mass City High School in 1951 and attended Grand Rapids Baptist Bible Institute for two years.

While there, she met the love of her life, John Oberlin. Helen and John were married on Aug. 7, 1954, in Imlay City, Michigan, and established a home in Lambertville, Mich., near Toledo, Ohio. While living in the Toledo area, they were members of Lewis Ave Baptist Church where they were leaders in the youth programs for many years. In the Spring of 1968, they were led by the Lord to move back to Upper Peninsula, choosing the Crystal Falls area to raise their young family. In 1980 they built a new home in Bates Township and have lived there ever since.

The couple was blessed with nearly 70 years of marriage with John preceding Helen in death on May 7, 2024. Helen worked as a bookkeeper for their family business, Oberlin’s Kitchen and Bath, in Iron River for many years until her retirement. She was a charter member of Lakeland Baptist Church in Iron River. Helen was an avid reader and an excellent seamstress. She enjoyed sewing, knitting, traveling, camping and spending the winter season in Florida.

Most of all, she loved the Lord and sharing her faith with her family and friends. She also loved spending time with her family and especially enjoyed having her granddaughters over to her home where they built precious memories doing a special craft, eating on her fine china and helping her decorate for Christmas. Helen was a loving and devoted mother to her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and embodied the fruits of the spirit, “Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self Control” throughout her life.

Helen is survived by her five children, Joyce Oberlin of Tecumseh, Mich., Jon (Jan) Oberlin of Iron River, Mark (Lois) Oberlin of Ada, Mich., Scott (Lauri) Oberlin of Crystal Falls and Jean (Jeff) Bjorkman of Iron River; 18 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; one brother-in-law, Michael (Dawn) Oberlin of Michigan; two sisters-in-law, Mary Ellen (Gordon) Christian of Kentucky and Dolores (Ray) Macaro of Alabama; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and her husband John, Helen was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Greg George; a great-granddaughter, Luna Flanagan; a brother, Bill Stover; and three sisters, Ada Mae Judd, Kathalene Youngs and Elizabeth Moore.

Visitation will be held on Friday, January 17, 2025, from 10 a.m. until noon at the Lakeland Baptist Church in Iron River. Funeral services will follow at noon at the church. Pastor Paul Starkweather will officiate. Helen’s grandchildren will serve as pallbearers. A private burial service will take place at Bates Township Cemetery in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Iron County Medical Care Facility Memory Care Unit or Lakeland Baptist Church in Helen’s name.

Condolences to the family of Helen Oberlin may be expressed online at www.nashfuneralhome.net.

The family has entrusted the Nash Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Crystal Falls with arrangements.