HELEN COGGER

Helen D. Cogger, age 92, of Neenah, passed away Thursday, April 2, 2009, at her home. She was born in Onaway, Michigan on September 22, 1916. Mr. Wolcott Hackley and Mabel Butler of Ann Arbor, Michigan were very special people in Helens formative years. She married her high school sweetheart, William Cogger, in 1939, and they had a happy marriage for 55 years. He preceded her in death in 1994. Mrs. Cogger graduated from Wayne State University in Detroit with a degree in elementary education. She had received a four year scholarship to the university. Helen and Bill lived in Detroit until 1941. Then they moved to Milwaukee where Bill was called into military service for six years. After the war, they moved to Menasha. She was an active member of the community. Helen helped organize the first PTA at Jefferson School, and later a city PTA that included Neenah crossing guards for schools and PTA matinee movies at the Brin Theater. She was also a leader in Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, and was a substitute teacher. In 1956, the Coggers moved to Neenah, and here too was active in the community. She was coordinator for ten Cub Scouts Den Mothers at the First Presbyterian Church and also was a Girl Scout leader. She taught Sunday School for 15 years and was superintendant in kindergarten and primary school, as well as summer Bible school. Helen and her husband were adult leaders in junior and senior evening groups. They helped organize the adult 81 Club and later the Faith and Fellowship Club. She enjoyed helping to cook the many church dinners and was a circle leader for several years. In recent years, she has done a lot of serving for TLC mission work. She was program chair for Friends Class from 1998. In 1998, Helen became a 50 year member of the Presbyterian Church. Helen has been a member of the American Association of University Women since 1947. She served as treasurer and leader in several study groups. In 1973, she was selected as a fellowship name grant honoree for AAUW. She wrote the script for the Puppet Show on Nutrition-presented to over 2000 children in the area by AAUW members. She was their historian for 22 years, (since 1984), the Tuesday Club since 1988, and has been the Travel Group chairperson for AAUW from 1973-2001. Helen taught at Lakeview School for 16 years. While at Lakeview, she received the Horizon Fellowship Award in 1969. In 1973, Mrs. Cogger was awarded Teacher of the Year. She wrote a pilot program for a transitional first grade that was used in four schools for seven years. Helen found teaching to be a happy and very rewarding experience. Just before retirement, she wrote a pamphlet on the history of Lakeview School called A Tribute to Progress from 1856-1983 . She was on the executive committee for five years trying to save old City Hall; only the clock tower was saved. After 20 years, she joined the new clock tower committee to help preserve the tower again. Since her retirement in 1979, she became very active in the Neenah Historical Society, and helped sew authentic gowns for historic local plays and style shows, and supplying play props. Helen helped set up exhibits at the Octagon House, and was a tour guide for schoolchildren and other groups. She also gave many slide talks on the history of Neenah to schools. Helen recently wrote a booklet called The Neenah Story for third and fourth graders. The booklet is illustrated with many old Neenah pictures. All donations for the booklet were given to the Neenah Historical Society for an educational center. The booklet is in all the local elementary schools. In 2002, she set up a Neenah Historical shelf in each of the ten elementary schools; six books about Neenah with historic sheets that can be duplicated, slide scripts of Birds Eye View of Neenah and Historic Places in Neenah that are available for use in the schools. She liked developing units for school use, on topics such as drugs and ecology. Helen liked keeping busy, helping others, especially children. She was a very active and caring person. She is survived by four children and eleven grandchildren: Bill and Dawn Cogger, Elizabeth City, NC; Kathy and Bob Salm, Appleton; Nancy Andersen, Cochranville, PA; and Tom and Connie Cogger, Washburn, WI; grandchildren: Laura Salm (fianc, Scott Hamilton), Karen Salm, Lydia Andersen, Jacob Andersen, Melanie Andersen, Peter Andersen, Matt Cogger, Jake Cogger, Ben Cogger, Catie Cogger, and Tommy Cogger. A sister, Marian Nattle, Wautoma, and a brother, Fred Cassibo, Michigan. She was preceded in death by her husband and several brothers and sisters. The Funeral Service for Helen will be Wednesday, April 8, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Richard Moore officiating. Visitation will be Tuesday at Neenahs Westgor Funeral Home from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., and again Wednesday at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the hour of services. Entombment will be in Greenlawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Helens honor can be directed to the Neenah Historical Society, 343 Smith St., Neenah, 54956. Phone 920-729-0244 or website: www.neenahhistoricalsociety.org. The family would like to extend a personal thank you to Heartland Hospice and the exceptional staff at Island Shores with special thanks to Renee and Debbie.