Helen "Babe" Zach Obituary (1928 - 2018)

Helen "Babe" Zach, 90, of Wilber, joined her Heavenly Father on August 6. A bright star beloved by all who knew her, Babe was a woman full of life, humor, laughter, and wonderful great cheer. Born and raised in Wilber, Babe lived briefly in Lincoln where she worked for the utility companies but returned home to Wilber after marrying her husband Bob. She and Bob were happily married until his death in 1995. Babe then worked for many years in the Saline County Treasurer's Office. A proud Czech and Wilberite, she was an active and dedicated member of the Nebraska Czechs of Wilber, acting as its treasurer for many years and receiving the Lady of Libuse honor in 1999 in recognition of her years of joyful service to the organization and the annual Czech Festival. Her faith and her church were a central part of her life and she volunteered much time organizing and supporting church events and rarely missed Bible study. Her generous spirit and energy shown in the many other activities she was involved with including serving as a member of the Wilber Craft Shop, the Pythian Sisters, and the Wilber Women's Club. Babe knew no strangers and loved spending time with her many friends and family where she loved telling and hearing great stories, all of them with laughter at their center. The impact she made on her family, friends, and community is everlasting. Babe is survived by her sister-in-law and favorite adventure buddy Elva Mares of Lincoln; nieces Diane Mares of Prairie Village, Kansas and Mary Mares of Washington, DC; cousin Sandy Luse of Wilber; great-nieces Natalie Peters (Mares) of Lincoln and Jacquelyn Mares of Dayton, Ohio; great-nephew Nathan Mares of Lincoln; and many other loving and loved sisters-in-law, cousins, nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband Bob Zach, brothers Richard and Jack, and nephew David. Friends and loved ones are welcome to a visitation from 2:00-7:30pm on Wednesday, August 8, at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wilber, with the family greeting guests beginning at 5:30. A celebration of Babe's life will be held at the church on Thursday, August 9 at 10:30am. A family prayer service will be held at 10:15 AM Thursday at the church. Burial will be in the Wilber Czech Cemetery. Memorials may be given to the family for a charitable donation to be made in Babe's memory at a later date with the funeral home in charge. Please sign Babe's online guest book and watch her video tribute when completed at www.ghchapel.com. These services have been entrusted to the Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatri