Helen G. Koenig

Helen G. Koenig of Groesbeck , passed away on Monday, September 21, 2015 at Providence Hospital in Waco, succumbing suddenly to illness, at age 88. Visitation will be on Wednesday, September 23, 2015 from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at Groesbeck Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Thursday, September 24, 2015 in the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel, with her son-in-law, Rev. Clayton Cole officiating. Burial to follow in Hillcrest Cemetery in Marlin. Pallbearers will be David Koenig, Eddy Plummber, III, Michael Cole, Joey Kimble, Robert Irvin, and Robert Koenig. Helen was born September 11, 1927 to Francis (Frank) Wilganoski and Angelica (Nellie)(Oxely) Wilganoski at McClanahan near Marlin, the youngest of twelve children. She also grew up and attended school in McClanahan. Helen was united in marriage to Stanley H. Koenig on April 5, 1947 in Marlin. They lived in Marlin, Hillsboro and Bellmead while he was a butcher, bread man, and salesman for Nabisco Crackers, and she was a homemaker raising their two children. In 1968, when Stanley heard of an opportunity to open his own business in Groesbeck, the former Glasco Grocery, they took the chance and moved to Groesbeck with their daughter in the fourth grade and their son in college. Helen went to work in the store with Stanley, and their “Mom and Pop” grocery on Navasota Street was not only their livelihood, but a place where they trained and employed many people and served many customers. After some years, they built a new store and there “Stanley’s” was the work site for many loyal employees and shopping site for most of Groesbeck. They were joined in 1972 in the business by their son Don and his family. Stanley’s closed in 1994 but Helen didn’t retire. She continued to work at S&H Convenience Store, cooking the fast foods and home-cooked lunches until retiring five years ago. Few people living in or passing through Groesbeck missed knowing Helen. She also loved to cook for her family including 7-Up cake and brownies. Helen enjoyed many things in life, including loving her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Fishing was one of the things she enjoyed sharing with them. She loved giving gifts, not only to her family but to friends and employees. She was an avid “bargain shopper” - anywhere she found a bargain or something “on Sale”, (whether she needed it then or not.) Finding bargains was her challenge as well as her hobby. Another hobby was gambling. She enjoyed fun trips with ladies to Las Vegas, and going to the Casino with her husband and friends (some of whom were Raymond Wietzikoski and Jack Russell.) After her husband passed away, her granddaughter chauffeured Helen and her lady friends on many Casino outings. Helen not only fed many people through the convenience store, but she took on the bottle feeding of orphan calves, some of which became her permanent grown stock. One cows she had raised would lead her calves through the pasture to her to feed, and calves would chase the truck like a dog for their bottle. She also ran a “pet buffet” in her home, feeding cats and dogs (all obese) with a wide variety of pet food up until her last days. Helen had a good humor, and enjoyed her family being together, especially playing “42” and “84.” Helen was preceded in death by her parents; all eleven of her brothers and sisters; and her husband Stanley Koenig in 2003. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Don R. and Cathy Koenig of Groesbeck; daughter and son-in-law, Diane and Clay Cole of Harker Heights; grandson, David Koenig and wife Jennifer of Hallsville; granddaughter, Karen Kimble and husband Joey of Groesbeck; grandson, Eddy Plummer III and wife Michele of Bastrop; granddaughter, Amanda Irvin and husband Robert of Killeen; and grandson, Michael J. Cole of Harker Heights; and great grandchildren, Tanner, Hayden, Ashlyn, Abigail, and Caradin.