Helen Camp

Helen Camp was a delightful woman with so much love to share with others. It was second nature for her to put the needs of others ahead of her own whether her children, her extended family, or others within her reach. Helen’s life was certainly not without times of struggle, yet she had a quiet strength that combined with her vibrant faith, allowed her to weather the storms of life. It was easy to see that Helen lived to love her family, and that she had a special place in her heart for each of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well.

The year 1917 was an historical year as it was during this year that America began sending our young men across the sea to light the battle for the world’s liberty in WWI, the first Selective Service Act was passed, and the bloodiest racial conflict in United States history occurred on July 2nd. This was also a significant year in the family of Oscar and Della (Kalsbeek) Bergsma as they welcomed the birth of their daughter, Helen Wilma, on May 2nd. Helen was born in Muskegon, Michigan, as the fourth of thirteen children in her family. She was raised on the family farm located on Kinney Road where they raised turkeys and grew fruit. As a young girl, Helen loved to both roller skate and ice skate, and she also played on a women’s softball team. She attended local schools including Union High School and was part of the graduating class of 1933.

With her formal education behind her, great changes were in store for Helen. She entered the workforce after high school, initially finding employment at Winters and Compton. Helen was later able to secure a job at Globe Knitting due to her affiliation with the softball team. Life was forever changed for Helen when she was roller skating one day and met the young man with whom she would create a family she adored. His name was Jack Camp and after dating for a time, Helen became Mrs. Jack Camp at her aunt’s home in Indiana right before he was drafted into WWII. The newlyweds were separated while Jack was serving stateside in Texas.

Once Jack was discharged in 1944, he returned to his young bride, and they purchased a home on Chicago Drive SW. It was while living on Chicago Drive that Helen and Jack welcomed their son, Jack, into their hearts and home. A short time later, the young family actually moved their home around the corner to Belden Avenue in order to accommodate one of Helen’s brothers who wanted to expand his gas station. Once they were living on Belden, Helen and Jack were blessed with the birth of their daughter, Patricia. The young Jack spent his earliest years in their home on Chicago Drive while Patricia’s formative years were spent in a home on Belden and interestingly, it was the very same house!

Tragedy struck shortly thereafter when Helen’s husband suddenly died in 1948 of ulcerative colitis, a rare inflammatory bowel disease. This left Helen a single mother with two young children to support. She worked at home in order to be able to care for her children as well as earn a living to support them. Helen took in washing and ironing, babysat, and cleaned houses. She was an attentive mother who unconditionally loved her children, but made sure they toed the line as well. When her children were a bit older, Helen took a job with AAA of Michigan in 1964. She remained there throughout the rest of her career before retiring as the head of the travel department after 30 years of dedicated service.

Although Helen was quite busy caring for her children and working, she managed to enjoy many other interests as well. She was a gifted seamstress who made clothes for her children. Helen and a group of seven other women formed a group the called “The Club.” They met monthly, and Helen always hosted the December meeting because she loved both the holiday season and entertaining. She often had people over for dinner and used her best china. Helen’s specialties included Swiss steak, her homemade spaghetti sauce, and her sponge cake was legendary as well.

Later in life, there were additional activities that Helen was able to enjoy. She liked traveling and visited places such as England, Ireland, Spain, Africa, and Yugoslavia just to name a few. Helen loved reading, especially her Bible and books that are part of a historical series, and she also liked tending to her flower gardens. She enjoyed watching baseball and tennis, and she never quite understood the game of football. Helen also enjoyed religious programs on television such as Reverend Charles Stanley. She continued to meet with the women from her club for many years until Helen entered Rest Haven Home. For the past five years, her activities have been more restricted as she lost her eyesight due to complications from cataract surgery.

One of the things that made Helen so special was her tender heart. She was a compassionate caregiver as she not only visited the chronically ill, but she also cared for her elder Kalsbeek aunts. Family was always a vital part of Helen’s life, and she had a special place in her heart for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Gathering with her family was always of the utmost importance to Helen, and Christmas gatherings were traditionally held in her basement. Eventually, her family grew to be so large that the gatherings moved to a school in the area, and family picnics were another one of Helen’s favorite times. Helen had a great sense of humor that only came to be greatly appreciated during her later years. Additionally, she was always conscious of her dress and her overall appearance.

Helen Camp was a remarkable woman who devoted her life to loving and caring for others. She was social and had many close friends with whom she loved spending time. Helen’s travels took her all over the world, yet her favorite place to be was gathered with her family. She was a woman of faith who always carried herself with humility, strength, and grace. Helen will be dearly missed.

Helen W. Camp died on January 6, 2010. Helen’s family includes her children, Jack (Judy) Camp of Atlanta, GA, Patricia Bartlett of Wyoming; grandchildren, Jacque (David) Sandiford, Cheryl (Chris) Drew; great-grandchildren, Allison, Lauren, Amanda, Emily, Molly and Bryce; siblings, Wilma (Al) Twiest, Ruth (Ray) Opdendyk, Oscar, Jr. “Mike” (Dorothy), Norman, Edward and Robert (Joyce) Bergsma; and many nieces and nephews. Helen was preceded in death by her husband Jack; siblings, George, John, Russ, Bertha, and Norma. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Berean Baptist Church 1574 Coit NE with interment in Rosedale Memorial Park. Friends may meet the family on Friday at Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes – Alt & Shawmut – Grand Rapids, MI, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr NW on Friday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a memory, sign the online guestbook, or make a memorial contribution to the Berean Baptist Church Children’s Ministry.