Johanna (Kuemmerle) Bielskis

Johanna (Kuemmerle) Bielskis of Bay City, age 94, went home to be with our Lord and Savior on Sunday, February 19, 2012. Johanna began her eternal walk with Jesus as her loved ones surrounded her with prayer. She died as she had lived, very quietly, peacefully with a strong trust in our Lord's promise of heaven. Johanna was born on February 22, 1917, in Ohmenhausen, Germany, the youngest of nine children born to Robert and Luise (Haug) Kuemmerle. She was preceded in death by sisters Marie, Luise, Rosa, and Emma; and brothers Karl, William, and Hans. She immigrated to Michigan in 1951 and was united in marriage to Walter Bielskis on February 22, 1953. He preceded her in death in 1999. Blessed with one daughter, Krista (Don) Flory, and one beloved grandson, Kevin Flory, she shared with them what mattered most - her Christian faith along with her deep and abiding love. In 1951 she joined Zion Lutheran Church and transferred her membership to Faith Lutheran Church in 2008. Oma loved to bake cookies, garden, feed the birds, read, knit, and sew; and most of all to be with her family. God blessed Johanna with loving and caring caregivers: Kris Helmreich, Marie Klamer, Guin Petrimoulx, Maxine Klein, Angela Schmidt, and MaryLou Rabidoux. Thanks to Pastors Meckces, Morris and Allwardt for their spiritual care, as well as Judy and Tiffany from McLaren Hospice. Also surviving her is one brother George (Elfriede) Kuemmerle, along with several nieces and nephews both here in the States and Germany. Family and friends will gather at Zion Lutheran Church on Wednesday, February 22nd to celebrate her life on her 95th birthday. She will lie in state from 10 a.m. till noon. The Rite of Christian Burial begins at noon with Rev. William Allwardt officiating. Interment will be at Floral Gardens Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Zion Lutheran Church, Faith Lutheran Church, Family Life Radio or a charity of the donors choosing.