Helen R. Rigelman, age 100, of Montpelier, Ohio, died at 9:20 A.M. on Tuesday, January 30, 2018, at Hillside Country Living near Bryan, Ohio. Mrs. Rigelman was a longtime employee of Beam-Stream, where she was an inspector until her retirement. She was especially proud of being a “Rosie the Riveter” working at the Willow Run bomber plant building B-24 Liberator bombers during World War II. She was an excellent cook and baker, known for her pies, and enjoyed canning. Throughout the years she enjoyed traveling on family vacations and later on many bus trips to various points of interest. While living and raising her family around Nettle Lake, Ohio, she enjoyed pontoon rides on the lake, her neighborhood friends, attending the Nettle Lake United Brethren Church and playing Euchre and her Bunco club. While at Hillside she was active, especially enjoying country rides and Bingo.
Helen R. Rigelman was born on September 10, 1917, near Butler, Indiana, the daughter of Paul and Ruth (Wise) Nichols. She married Ray A. Rigelman on November 28, 1942, in Waterloo, Indiana, in a double ceremony with her twin brother, Harold, and his fiancée, Lucile. Ray preceded her in death on August 2, 1992.
Survivors include her daughter, Susan Kimpel, of Edon, Ohio; a brother, Keith Nichols, of Fort Wayne, Indiana; her special friend and roommate, Mary (Kimpel) Higgins; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her son-in-law, Robert Kimpel; three brothers, Randolph Nichols, her twin, Harold Nichols, and infant, Hubert Nichols; one sister, Jeanette Wehrle; her sisters-in-law, Madalyn, Lucile and Jackie Nichols; and her brother-in-law, Hillis Wehrle.
Visitation will be held on Monday, February 5, 2018, from 3:00-8:00 P.M. in the Krill Funeral Home, 204 West Indiana Street, Edon. Services will be held on Tuesday, February 6, 2018, at 11:00 A.M. in the Krill Funeral Home, Edon, with Pastor Mike Wilder officiating. Interment will follow in Columbia Cemetery.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Hillside Country Living and Community Health Professionals Hospice for their excellent care. Memorials are requested to Hillside Country Living Activity Fund, Nettle Lake United Brethren Church, Community Health Professionals Hospice and Home Health, or the Williams County Humane Society.
To sign the online register or to send condolences, please visit www.krillfuneralservice.com.
