Republic, MI - Helen Ethel Mattila, age 83, longtime Republic resident, passed to eternal life on Monday, January 16, 2023, at Maryhill Manor in Niagara, WI.

Helen was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin on June 9, 1939, a daughter of the late Elizabeth (Kincaid) and Charles  Blaim. She graduated from the Republic High School, Class of 1957. Helen married Kenneth Mattila in 1957 and resided in the Republic area. They raised 3 children on the family farm, SuAnn (Duane) Ambuehl, John Mattila and Alison (Jon) Kangas all now of Republic, she loved her 4 grandchildren - Shannon Ambuehl, Elizabeth, Zachary and Jillian Kangas; 3 great grandchildren – Christopher, Kaitlin and Kenny Ambuehl; also survived by a sister Audrey Paulson of Marquette. She was preceded in death by her husband Kenneth in 2000 and a brother Leland Blaim.

She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She worked side by side with her husband raising beef cattle, chickens, rabbits, turkeys and pigs plus numerous pets. She could also be seen peeling pulp and cutting boughs for extra income. She was a devout Lutheran and attended and volunteered at Bethany Lutheran Church in Republic. She was very involved with the Senior Friendly, and church choir. She loved to bake and cook for her family, neighbors and friends. You could always enjoy a cup of coffee, good conversation and her baking whenever anyone stopped by. She shared many of her recipes with anyone who was interested. She traveled with her late husband to see family in Arizona, Hawaii and California after his retirement. They visited their daughter in Alaska many times and really enjoyed the fresh seafood. She could twist off the head of a shrimp with no problem.

The family will greet relatives and friends from 10:00am - 11:00am on Saturday, January 21, 2023, at the Bethany Lutheran Church in Republic.  Funeral services will follow at 11:00am with Rev. Alex Ross officiating. Interment will take place at the Republic Cemetery.  A luncheon will follow the services in the church hall. Pallbearers will be Shannon Ambuehl, Zachary Kangas, Conrad Holtgard, Jack Mattila, Duane Ambuehl and Jon Kangas.

Memorial donations can be made to the Bethany Lutheran Church, 110 Poplar St. Republic, MI 49879.

Helen's obituary may also be viewed at bjorkandzhulkie.com where relatives and friends my leave a note of remembrance.