Helen Armella Luersman

OTTOVILLE - Helen Armella Luersman, 96, of Ottoville passed peacefully from this life into the presence of Jesus on Sunday, March 16, 2025.  She was born September 4, 1928, in Cuba, OH to the late Aloysius and Veronica (Schmiedebusch) Verhoff.

On August 9, 1950, she married her beloved husband of 64 years, Edward A. Luersman.  They were married in her home church, St. Isidore Catholic Church, Cuba.  A marriage centered around their commitment to one another and Christ.  They worked in unison on their family farm, teaching their children the value of hard work.  Helen was a devout member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Ottoville and its Altar Rosary Society.  She taught her family the value of a simple life of service to her family and how to follow God and live life according to The Ten Commandments.

Helen had a quiet, gentle spirit and took on every challenge life gave her with determination.  She had a playful spirit and enjoyed conversations and jokes with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren immensely.

She loved her parents, brothers and sisters and talked of them often and the good people they were.  She loved traveling to her beloved homestead in Cuba and had many wonderful stories to share.

She had a great love for music.  As a young girl, she sang in the church choir and taught herself to play piano by ear.  She has shared her wonderful talent and love of music with countless people.

Helen was staunchly pro-life and was a shining example of the love and commitment to her special needs daughter, Alice.  When Alice was born, the doctors advised Helen to place Alice in an institution.  Her reply was, "No, she is my baby."  She committed her life to her child, whom she knew God had fearfully and wonderfully created.  She accepted Alice as a blessing from God and raised her with selfless devotion.

Helen is survived by 13 children:  Ginnie Riepenhoff of Glandorf, Marge (Ken) Hanneman of Glandorf, Janet (Ted) Siebeneck, Doylestown, Ruth (Gene) Siefker of Columbus Grove, Ralph (Sue) Luersman of Fort Jennings, Sharon Verhoff of Ottawa, Alice Luersman of Ottawa, Paul (Karen) Luersman of Cloverdale, Geri (Dennis) Brubaker of Hamler, Carl (Dee) Luersman of Cloverdale, Armella (Todd) Menke of Beaverdam, Carolyn (Todd) Etter of Cloverdale and Marlene (Mark) Kahle of Kalida; 43 grandchildren; 53 great-grandchildren, with 1 on the way and a sister-in-law:  Joan Verhoff.

She is preceded in death by 2 sons-in-law:  Don Riepenhoff and Craig Verhoff; a great-grandson:  Xander Michael Moeller; 5 sisters:  Gertrude Nienberg, Stella Knueven, Rita Kleman, Clara Gerker and Veronica Luersman; 3 brothers:  Cornelius Verhoff, Elmer Verhoff and John Verhoff; 5 brothers-in-law:  Harold Nienberg, Leonard Knueven, Alvin Kleman, Urban Gerker and Lawrence Luersman.

Helen's funeral mass will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 22, 2025, at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Ottoville with The Very Reverend George Mahas officiating.  The burial will follow in the Church Cemetery.  Visitation will be on Friday from 2 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 to 10 a.m. at the LOVE-HEITMEYER FUNERAL HOME, Jackson Township.  There will be a scripture service at 1:45 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Putnam County Right to Life, Putnam County Homecare and Hospice and Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.  Online condolences may be expressed at www.lovefuneralhome.com.

Putnam County Homecare and Hospice
575 OG Road Suite 3, PO Box 312, Ottawa OH 45875
Tel: 1-419-523-4449
Web: http://www.pchh.net

Putnam County Right to Life

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
Ottoville OH 45876