Helen (nee Wagner) Fulk passed away peacefully on October 30, 2025, after 99 vibrant years on this earth. She is survived by her children Don (Cindy) Fulk, Sandy (Terry) Brown, and Tom (Cheryl) Fulk; her beloved grandchildren Matt (Amy) Fulk, JoElen (Christopher) Degenais, Jennifer Brown, Adam Fulk, and Steven (Kaitlyn) Fulk; and her cherished great-grandchildren Abby Fulk, Ben Fulk, Emily Degenais, and Ellie Fulk. She rejoins in heaven her husband Bert Fulk and son Jim (Connie) Fulk.

Helen was the last surviving of the five Wagner siblings [Dorothy Sarber, Lee Wagner, Florence Mulholland, Jean Hartline], marking the close of a remarkable generation of family legacy. As the matriarch of the extended Wagner families, she carried forward the humor, warmth, and strength that defined her upbringing. Her presence was a living connection to the family's history, and her memory will continue to unite the generations she so dearly loved.

At every family gathering, you could count on finding Helen, a glass of Canadian Club and water in hand — a tradition she once shared with her brother Lee. She never missed an opportunity to raise a glass, toast to others, and celebrate the joy of simply being together. Whether surrounded by family or enjoying time with friends at the Maywood Civic Club, Helen knew how to make life feel full and those around her felt seen and heard.

Born and raised in Chicago, Helen spent her early years at 9238 Blackstone Avenue until age 10, when the family moved to Hammond, Indiana. She was the daughter of Lee and DeEtta Wagner, the second youngest of five children in a lively household. She attended St. Albie's School on Stoney Island, where a few extra pennies in tuition meant tap dancing lessons in the hallways — a small delight she never forgot.

Helen's never-stop, strong work ethic began early; she started babysitting at 11 and worked throughout her life. At 16, she held her first job at Grant's Dime Store in downtown Hammond, splitting her days between school and the shop. She worked both the fabric counter — where she could cut cloth with precision — and the candy counter, where she became famous for being able to weigh a perfect pound of candy by feel alone.

After graduating from Hammond High School in 1944, Helen worked as a clerk for the South Shore Line Bus Company, enjoying free rides to and from Chicago, which she used as an opportunity to study her real passion - art. She attended the School of Fine Arts on Michigan Avenue, studying cartooning while her sister Florence pursued fashion design. Her lifelong love of art led her to study watercolor and acrylic painting with local artists, including Michael Chelich, a renowned portrait artist. Helen took great pride in her creative accomplishments, winning a blue ribbon at the Lake County Fair for her colorful parrot painting. Her paintings adorn the walls of so many of her loved ones to this day, brightening them in the same way her presence always has.

Helen married the love of her life, Bert Fulk, on June 5, 1948, at St. John Bosco Church, with her brother Lee as best man (though famously late to the wedding after oversleeping) and sisters Florence as maid of honor and Jean as bridesmaid. The celebration carried into the night, following dinner at Teibel's, filled with family, laughter, and the kind of joy that would mark their marriage for decades to come.

A devoted wife and mother, Helen balanced work and family with remarkable strength. After going to work at the Boilermaker's Local #374, she started learning to drive at the age of 44, a milestone that opened a new kind of freedom she cherished for the rest of her life. Helen quickly embraced the independence that came with being behind the wheel. That freedom became her essence — the ability to go where she pleased, on her own terms, with confidence and a touch of adventure. She retired in the 1990s after more than 20 years as a secretary at the Local #374.

Helen was known for her incredibly generous commitment to service. She was deeply involved in community and veterans' organizations, a direct connection to coming of age during World War II with a brother who served. Following in her father's footsteps, she joined the American Legion Auxiliary and went on to serve as President of her local unit #168, later becoming the Chapeau of the 8/40 Terre des Dunes Salon #446 in 1970–71, and State Chapeau of the 8/40 Departmental Chapeau du Indiana in 1976–77. Alongside her husband Bert, who served as Northern Vice Commander, she attended countless state and national conventions, making lifelong friends and representing her community with pride. Her lifelong dedication to keeping the memories alive of those we lost to war created great impact in Northwest Indiana.

Always a socializer, Helen spent much of her free time in her later years at the Maywood Civic Club in Hammond on 169th Street. She brought her ability to connect across generations and developed many deep friendships with those who always watched out for her so she could maintain her independence and freedom. These connections are ones she fondly cherished.

Despite challenges, including a silent battle with breast cancer in 2007, Helen faced life with humor and grit. She didn't want sympathy — only to keep moving forward and enjoy her days. She often said, "I don't want to live forever, you outlive your usefulness. You become wanted but not needed," but in truth, she was both wanted and needed every day of her long, full life.

From the girl who fetched wood for her mother's furnace to the woman who led family toasts and painted vibrant scenes from memory, Helen's story is one of endurance, laughter, and love. She leaves behind a family and community that will miss her deeply, but who will continue to feel her presence in every shared story, every [Canadian Club] glass raised in celebration, and every moment spent together — just as she would have wanted.

Her legacy is a bridge across generations — a reminder of the resilience and deep family ties that began with the Wagner's and continue through all who follow. The warmth of her light lives on in the family she guided with love and grace.

She was the heart of the family — the matriarch whose love and guidance kept everyone connected across generations.

A Visitation will take place on Thursday, November 6, 2025, from 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM at Solan Pruzin Funeral Home , 14 Kennedy Ave. Schererville, IN. A Prayer Service will be held at 6:30 PM with Fr. Jeffrey Burton officiating. Services conclude at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, please consider honoring Helen's commitment to service by making a donation to the Hammond F.O.P. #51 Holiday Food Drive, P.O. Box 533, Hammond, Indiana, 46325, or donate to your favorite local charity to help others in need.