Louise Helm, 93, of Shippensburg, passed peacefully in the early morning of Saturday, February 21, 2026 at Carlisle Hospital.
Born December 5, 1932, in Perry Valley, Perry County, she was the daughter of the late Wesley and Ellen Mangle Kauffman.
She graduated from Shippensburg Area High School in 1949 and worked numerous years at each of the following: The Beistle Company, SKF Industries, Kinney Shoe Corporation, and Letterkenny Army Depot, from which she retired.
Louise was an active lifelong member of the Shippensburg Covenant Brethren Church, formerly known as the Shippensburg Church of the Brethren until 2023, where she served her beloved Lord Jesus in many roles including Deaconess, Sunday School teacher, Bible Study leader, and positions on many boards and committees.
She was known as “Grandma Louise” to generations of Sunday School children, volunteered and supported wherever needed in the life of the church locally and abroad, and later in life enjoyed a ministry of visiting church members at home or in hospitals, retirement homes, and nursing homes.
Into her 90s, she continued an active, powerful prayer life and ministered to many through phone calls, cards, and notes. She had a smile and kind word for everyone.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Samuel Helm, her five siblings (brothers Park and Gideon Kauffman, sisters Elsie Hall, Ruth Paige, and Barbara Fogelsanger) and her husband’s eleven siblings and spouses.
Louise is survived by her daughter, Carole (husband Arthur) Baldoni of Newville, four grandchildren – Dominic (wife Molly), Maria (Nicolas Barnes), Gina, Adam (Kellyn Madden), one great-granddaughter Cecelia, her sister-in-law Evelyn Kauffman, cousins, and many generations of nieces and nephews.
Louise treasured time spent with her beloved family and was very active in the lives of her grandchildren and great-granddaughter, instilling faith, family values, and traditions. She attended many of their events from preschool to college, including music, sports, and graduations, and made all birthdays and holidays special.
She enjoyed reading, gardening, feeding the birds, Sunday afternoon drives, puzzles, telling “grandma jokes,” cooking and baking. She was especially known for her pies.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Sunday, March 8, 2026 at 3 p.m. at the Shippensburg Covenant Brethren Church, 253 E. Garfield Street, Shippensburg, PA 17257, with Pastor Galen Combs and Pastor John Horst officiating.
An hour of visitation will be held prior to the service at the church.
Burial will be private in the Cleversburg Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Shippensburg Covenant Brethren Church, 253 E. Garfield Street, Shippensburg, PA 17257.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Fogelsanger-Bricker Funeral Home & Crematorium, Inc.
Online condolences may be expressed at the funeral home’s website.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Louise Helm, please visit the flower store.
