Helen C. Oklok

Helen Oklok of Upper Sandusky died on December 17, 2022. Helen was born in Hopedale, Ohio on November 24, 1933 to Carl F and Dorothy (Devitt) Crawford. She graduated from Hopedale High School in 1951 and OSU School of Nursing in 1956. She practiced nursing at Portsmouth (VA) General and at OSU Hospital. She married George Oklok on October 22, 1955 and he precedes her in death. She is also preceded in death by her sister Alice Gordon and many great friends. These include her first Wyandot County neighbors Colene Beidelschies and Clara Louise Schoenberger and her First Presbyterian Church ladies Freda Hunter and Wanda Turley. She also had lifelong relationships with her nursing sisters Lois Spratlen, Marie Butler, and her closest friend Kathryn Heinzerling. The family would also like to thank Reverend Ken Wessler, Becky Blocksom and Amy Barth for their devotion to Helen during her Fairhaven years. She is survived by a brother Carl (Doris) Crawford and her four children Kathi (Kate) Oklok, Mari Hall, Suzi Ware and John Oklok. There are 5 grandchildren: Suzanne Hall, Gabe Hall, Katelynn (Ware) Russell, Hannah Ware and Luke Hall. She also leaves a step-granddaughter, Marritt Aska Wolfrom and 7 great-grandchildren. Visiting hours will be held at the First Presbyterian Church (129 W Johnson St, Upper Sandusky) on February 11, 2023 at 1 pm with a memorial service at 3 pm. A private burial of ashes will follow at a later date. In lieu of flowers, friends may donate to Habitat for Humanity in Columbus, Ohio or The Christian Food Pantry c/o St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Upper Sandusky. “You have bad parents. We ate all the pie. It was good.” I’ve kept that card for eight or nine years now because I knew I’d be writing this obit someday. Nothing I can say captures her as well as her own words. She was honest to a fault, good-humored and took an unabashed joy in the simple pleasures of life. “Poor punkin” “gooder than an angel” “gotta earn your salmon patties” We’ve been passing these catchphrases around lately. Most are deeply ingrained with us, a few largely forgotten. At the time, it seemed she was testing whose eyes could roll farthest and fastest. Really, though, she was instilling her philosophy. There were expectations that you were going to meet. You were sympathetic and lifted people when they were down. Most of all, you let your loved ones know they were truly and deeply loved. Sometimes it was tough love. Show up with a cut or scrape and she’d scour the germs and the epidermis right off you. But it was (ow!) love all the same. “They make you happy twice.” Helen adored and was adored by her grandchildren. She always met them on her own terms though; she never tried to be the cool adult. If her lack of tech or pop culture savvy inspired a few “oh, grandma” moments, the kiddos always knew that Upper was that warm safe place. Her influence on them isn’t hard to detect. One is a nurse and one is a habitual baby-hog. “He stinks.” That was her verdict on George Jones and any number of musical acts I liked. (Did I mention the honest to a fault part?) So, I know how she’d feel about citing him, but, sorry Mom, the lyric fits. “She stood in the shadow so others could shine/she loved a lot in her time. She played traffic cop for my dad at the office and so many other aspects of his life. She suffered the slings and arrows of outrageous mother-in-law and called her “good entertainment value.” She took pride in anything we kids accomplished without taking the credit. She set us up for success and she set an example. Thanks mom. In lieu of flowers, friends may donate to Habitat for Humanity, Columbus, OH or The Christian Food Pantry %St. Paul Lutheran Church, Upper Sandusky. Visiting hours will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, 129 W. Johnson St., Feb. 11, 2023 at 1:00PM with a memorial services at 3:00PM. A private burial of ashes will follow at a later date.

Helen C. Oklok

November 24, 1933 - December 17, 2022