Mineral Point - Helena T. Lawinger, age 84, of Mineral Point, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 31, 2015 at Upland Hills Health in Dodgeville.

She was born to Adolph J. and Anna M. (Averkamp) Salzmann on March 16, 1931. She grew up in Dickeyville and attended Holy Ghost grade school, where she belonged to Young Ladies Sodality at Holy Ghost Church. On August 21, 1951 she married Bill Lawinger and farmed in the Mineral Point area. Helena enjoyed traveling to watch their sons wrestle.

Helena and Bill opened the Red Rooster Cafe where she baked for over 40 years. Bill preceded her in death on October 10, 1994. She enjoyed spending time with her large family and many friends, visiting her daughter Jane, trips to the casino, and making photo books. She belonged to the National Catholic Society of Foresters and was an active member of Ss. Mary & Paul's Catholic Church.

Helena is survived by her children, Rich Lawinger, Patti (Dave) McKinley, Steve Lawinger, Laura (Gary) Jenkins, Nick (Margo) Lawinger, Ann (John) Trace, Jane Lawinger and Billy (Patti) Lawinger; 19 grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren; her special friend, Bud Richter; her siblings, John (Mary) Salzmann and Rita (Ed) McKeon; her in-laws, Ag Knutson, Joann Grimm, Helen (Bob) Regan and Ken (Mary) Lawinger.

Helena is preceded in death by her twin daughters, Mary Beth and Mary Helena and grandson, Will, her siblings, Sr. Clara Salzmann SDS, Marian (Ervin "Tony") Lange, Catherine (Arnie) Lange, Father Edmund Salzmann and Joseph (Lillian) Salzmann, her in-laws, Jim Knutson, Joe Grimm, Helen (Cecil) Flanagan, Eleanor (Gill) Joestgen, Alice (Linus) Hartung, and Robert Lawinger.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, November 4, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at Ss. MARY & PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH in Mineral Point. Concelebrating will be Fr. Jim Leeser, Fr. David Flanagan and Msgr. Michael Burke. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery. A visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2015 from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. at the GORGEN FUNERAL HOME in Mineral Point and also on Wednesday from 10:00 until 10:50 a.m. at the church. A Rosary service will be held on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. at the Gorgen Funeral Home.