She was born to John Michael and Lucile (Perry) Deuster on April 10, 1923, in the family home in Suttons Bay. The farmhouse just north of Suttons Bay was built in the 1800’s and is still in the family. On the day Helen was born, there was an unusual snowstorm (for April) that caused the train to jump the railroad tracks in front of the house.

Helen was a lifelong parishioner at St. Michael’s, having been baptized, made her 1st Communion and was married in that church. As a child she attended the St. Michael School until the 8th grade when she was transferred over to the (Public) Old Stone School House on the hill on St. Mary’s Street. After graduation in 1940 she went on to study cosmetology at the Theresa Manion Beauty School in Traverse City. While at the beauty school she stayed with her aunt and uncle John Ott who lived on 8th Street, not too far from the school. After graduation, Helen worked with her sister Edna at the Deuster Beauty Studio in Suttons Bay (above the former Rufli/ Morey/Silver Tree Deli building).

On November 23, 1946, Helen married her husband Robert X. Wransky at St. Michael Church. They purchased a home at 211 Broadway, where she lived most of her life. After their marriage Helen took over the Beauty Shop from her sister in about 1946 when her sister Edna and husband Bill moved to Oklahoma. Eventually Helen moved the shop to the back of her home on Broadway. Helen did hair for 40 years! After retirement, she helped her husband Bob with his small cherry orchard.

Bob and Helen enjoyed traveling with her sister Edna and brother-in-law Bill Lind.

Helen, Bob and daughter Barbara were able to take two trips to Europe together. Helen enjoyed playing cards (Pedro), going to garage sales and the casino. She would spend hours refinishing some of the furniture that was purchased from those garage sales.

1923 ~ 2025

Helen helped with the St. Michael’s annual dinner from 8th grade until they no longer had the chicken dinners. Helen went door to door for many years collecting for the Red Cross. She also volunteered at the Suttons Bay Library for about 10 years.

After she retired from the Beauty Shop, she spent many, many years working on her family history back to the 1700’s and Suttons Bay history from about the 1860’s, all without the use of a computer.

Helen was always smartly dressed, even when she wore work clothes, she wore the big earrings, bracelets, and other bling. Helen was preceded in death by her brother Elmer in 1942. Both parents, John in 1976 and Lucile in 1972. Her husband Bob on November 19, 2003, her sister Edna in 2004, her grandson Matthew (1974-2012) and her brother-in-law Bill in 2017, and her son-in-law Dennis in 2020.

Surviving Helen is her only child, Barbara Lehner and two nieces Vickie (Lind) Boeskool and Janine (Lind) Packaurick (Kim) and a delightful family friend Tina Frankenberger and Tina’s daughter Alice. Vickie has a son Ryan and granddaughter Adelaide. Kim and Janine have two children Adam (Lindsey). three grandchildren, Presley, Sadie Belle and Tyler and Kara (Matt) Staruch, and grandchildren Jacob and Bradley.

Helen wanted to thank everyone who sent her a card for her 100th birthday. Those cards made her birthday special for her. Thank you to Orchard Creek for their love and kindness.

The funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 14th at St. Michael’s Church in Suttons Bay with visitation starting at 10 a.m.

Memorials may be directed to Suttons Bay / Bingham Endowment Fund 4955 S. West Bay Shore Drive, Suttons Bay, MI 49682. Please share condolences and memories with the family at www.martinson.info.

Arrangements are with Martinson Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Leelanau.