Helmi Johanna Monkkonen Gholz, age 94, passed away Friday evening, December 16, at home with her husband by her side, from complications of Alzheimer's disease. She was born October 12, 1917, in Cuyuna, Minnesota, the only daughter of the five children of Henry and Mary (Kulmala) Monkkonen. She spoke Finnish before English and graduated from Crosby-Ironton High School as Valedictorian in 1935. Upon graduating from St. Cloud State Teachers College in 1937, she taught school in rural Minnesota for four years. She was awarded a B.S. in Education from the University of Minnesota in 1942 and accepted an elementary principalship in Long Lake, MN. Helmi Monkkonen married Anthony C Gholz, a medical student at the University of Minnesota, on November 28, 1942 in Crosby, MN. From 1943 to 1945 she worked at the WWII aircraft manufacturer Pratt-Whitney in St. Paul. After his yearlong internship in Detroit in 1945, she accompanied her husband, a Captain on active duty in US Army Medical Corps. After returning to Detroit for his residency in 1948, their first child Anthony was born. The family moved to Port Huron in July, 1950 where two more sons, Henry and John, were born. In 2001, they moved to Fort Gratiot. Helmi was an active Great Books leader. As a member of the St Clair County Medical Auxiliary she served as its president and legislative chair. She was a member of First United Methodist Church for over fifty years. She truly enjoyed golf and was a long time member of Black River County Club where she was particularly involved in the Babe Zaharias Tournament. Helmi was predeceased by her parents and her four brothers: Hugo, Alfred, Bruno and Leo. She is survived by her husband Dr. Anthony Gholz and three sons: Anthony (Mary White) Gholz, Jr. of Troy, MI; Dr. Henry (Jan Engert) Gholz of Fort Collins, CO; and John (Ruth Matusak Canty) Gholz of Cincinnati. Her grandchildren: Dr. Carleton Gholz; Nathan Gholz and his daughter Eden; Justin (Kelly Wade) Gholz and their three sons Nicholas, Brooks, and Evan; Mary (Cam) Moss; Sophia (Jeff Olson) Gholz and their daughter Olivia; Sean Gholz; Peter Gholz; Alexander Gholz; Hali Gholz. Also: Michael Canty; Andrew Canty and his three sons Elijah, Gage and Isaiah; two cousins, three nephews, and five nieces. In addition: her special caregivers Kathy Harmon and Stephanie Delano. Helmi loved her family. She was an excellent homemaker, a most wonderful wife, mother and grandmother. She will be greatly missed by them and her many friends.

Funeral services were held, Wednesday at First United Methodist Church, 828 Lapeer Ave., Port Huron. The Rev. John C. Huhtala, Sr. and Rev. John N. Grenfell, Jr. officiated. Her grandchildren acted as pallbearers.