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IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Helen
Veenstra
June 19, 1927 – September 2, 2024
Obituary
Helen Isabel (nee: Sinclair) Veenstra was a remarkable woman, a woman of quiet dignity, grace and intelligence. She possessed a rare indomitable spirit that guided her for nearly a century.
Always an anchor of love and steadfast support for her family, she treasured each of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren individually, encouraging each one to embrace their own lives, make their own journey. We will miss her dearly.
Helen was born in Detroit on June 19, 1927 to Charles and Rose Ann (nee: Boissoneau) Sinclair. The daughter of a leading automotive engineer, her early life was influenced by the burgeoning auto industry, cruising Lake Huron on the family's classic wooden power boat, the Great Depression and WWII. A graduate of Mary Burnham School (Northampton MA), she went on to major in English at Northwestern University. A sorority sister introduced her to Chuck Veenstra because he shared her love of boating, being on the water. They were married in Howe Chapel at Northwestern University in Evanston on her 21 st birthday, June 19, 1948. Their grand adventure lasted more than 62 years.
Helen is survived by her children, Valerie Hansen of Racine, Charles "Chick" Veenstra, Jr (Pamela) of Maryville TN, Richard Veenstra (Deborah Havey) of Shorewood WI, and Douglas Veenstra of Racine; grandchildren, Beverly Multerer (Mark Bunker) of Seattle WA, Erin (Chris) Mirabella of Colorado Spring CO, Rebecca (Tim) Groff of Omaha NE, and Annabella Graves of Albuquerque NM; great-grandchildren, Micah, Lindsey and Eli Mirabella, Charles Payne, and Olivia Groff. Helen is also survived by nieces and nephews, other relatives and dear friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles C Veenstra, her parents, her sister Azel "Peggy" Maile, brothers Charles "Bud" Sinclair and Harold "Dick" Sinclair, her sister-in-law Audrey Luedke and brother-in-law Garrett "Bud" Veenstra, as well as nieces, nephews and too many dear friends.
Embracing their journey together, Helen and Chuck built a home in Wind Point next to the lighthouse where they raised their family. Helen was active in the Junior League, AAUW, and all her children's activities. She was a lifelong boater and sailor, a life member of the Racine Yacht Club. In retirement Helen and Chuck enjoyed sailing their beloved sailboat, aptly named the "Wind Point", for more than a decade in the Caribbean. They completed several marathon journeys sailing up the length of the East coast, past the Statue of Liberty, up the Hudson River to the Erie canal, thru the Great Lakes to Racine, then returning to Florida via the Illinois, Ohio, Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway and Mississippi, finally crossing the Gulf of Mexico to their new home in Punta Gorda, Florida.
Always modest and unassuming, Helen had a rare inner-directed strength that empowered her to take-on many non-traditional roles for a woman of her age. Beyond being an accomplished sailor, she mastered Morse Code to become a ham radio operator in the era before satellite communication. At the age of 45 she earned a private Pilot's license, becoming an aviator. Always an avid reader, Helen learned to enjoy audio books after going blind more than twenty years ago. Her lifelong passion for travel and time on the water extended right-up to the present, joining a family cruise to Alaska this summer.
She lived at the Atrium of Racine for nearly 15 years, surrounded by dear and supportive friends. With the onset of covid she moved to her daughter's home in early 2020. After a short hospitalization and a few days in hospice, she died at home on Labor Day, in the arms of her daughter.
Please visit the Purath-Strand funeral home website to share a memory, read a farewell for sailors, and view some images of Helen's long and full life.
Helen's remarkable life will be celebrated in private by her family – and forever in our hearts.
The Unknown Shore
Sometime at eve when the tide is low,
I shall slip my moorings and sail away,
With no response to a friendly hail,
In the silent hush of the twilight pale,
When the night stoops down to embrace the day
And the voices call in the water's flow.
Sometime at eve when the tide is low,
I shall slip my moorings and sail away.
Through purple shadows that darkly trail
O'er the ebbing tide of the unknown sea,
And a ripple of waters to tell the tale
Of a lonely voyager, sailing away
To mystic isles, where at anchor lay
The craft of those who had sailed before
O'er the unknown sea to the unknown shore.
A few who have watched me sail away
Will miss my craft from the busy bay;
Some friendly barques were anchored near,
Some loving souls that my heart held dear
In silent sorrow will drop a tear;
But I shall have peacefully furled my sail
In mooring sheltered from the storm and gale,
And greeted friends who had sailed before
O'er the unknown sea to the unknown shore.
Elizabeth Clark Hardy
Always an anchor of love and steadfast support for her family, she treasured each of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren individually, encouraging each one to embrace their own lives, make their own journey. We will miss her dearly.
Helen was born in Detroit on June 19, 1927 to Charles and Rose Ann (nee: Boissoneau) Sinclair. The daughter of a leading automotive engineer, her early life was influenced by the burgeoning auto industry, cruising Lake Huron on the family's classic wooden power boat, the Great Depression and WWII. A graduate of Mary Burnham School (Northampton MA), she went on to major in English at Northwestern University. A sorority sister introduced her to Chuck Veenstra because he shared her love of boating, being on the water. They were married in Howe Chapel at Northwestern University in Evanston on her 21 st birthday, June 19, 1948. Their grand adventure lasted more than 62 years.
Helen is survived by her children, Valerie Hansen of Racine, Charles "Chick" Veenstra, Jr (Pamela) of Maryville TN, Richard Veenstra (Deborah Havey) of Shorewood WI, and Douglas Veenstra of Racine; grandchildren, Beverly Multerer (Mark Bunker) of Seattle WA, Erin (Chris) Mirabella of Colorado Spring CO, Rebecca (Tim) Groff of Omaha NE, and Annabella Graves of Albuquerque NM; great-grandchildren, Micah, Lindsey and Eli Mirabella, Charles Payne, and Olivia Groff. Helen is also survived by nieces and nephews, other relatives and dear friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles C Veenstra, her parents, her sister Azel "Peggy" Maile, brothers Charles "Bud" Sinclair and Harold "Dick" Sinclair, her sister-in-law Audrey Luedke and brother-in-law Garrett "Bud" Veenstra, as well as nieces, nephews and too many dear friends.
Embracing their journey together, Helen and Chuck built a home in Wind Point next to the lighthouse where they raised their family. Helen was active in the Junior League, AAUW, and all her children's activities. She was a lifelong boater and sailor, a life member of the Racine Yacht Club. In retirement Helen and Chuck enjoyed sailing their beloved sailboat, aptly named the "Wind Point", for more than a decade in the Caribbean. They completed several marathon journeys sailing up the length of the East coast, past the Statue of Liberty, up the Hudson River to the Erie canal, thru the Great Lakes to Racine, then returning to Florida via the Illinois, Ohio, Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway and Mississippi, finally crossing the Gulf of Mexico to their new home in Punta Gorda, Florida.
Always modest and unassuming, Helen had a rare inner-directed strength that empowered her to take-on many non-traditional roles for a woman of her age. Beyond being an accomplished sailor, she mastered Morse Code to become a ham radio operator in the era before satellite communication. At the age of 45 she earned a private Pilot's license, becoming an aviator. Always an avid reader, Helen learned to enjoy audio books after going blind more than twenty years ago. Her lifelong passion for travel and time on the water extended right-up to the present, joining a family cruise to Alaska this summer.
She lived at the Atrium of Racine for nearly 15 years, surrounded by dear and supportive friends. With the onset of covid she moved to her daughter's home in early 2020. After a short hospitalization and a few days in hospice, she died at home on Labor Day, in the arms of her daughter.
Please visit the Purath-Strand funeral home website to share a memory, read a farewell for sailors, and view some images of Helen's long and full life.
Helen's remarkable life will be celebrated in private by her family – and forever in our hearts.
The Unknown Shore
Sometime at eve when the tide is low,
I shall slip my moorings and sail away,
With no response to a friendly hail,
In the silent hush of the twilight pale,
When the night stoops down to embrace the day
And the voices call in the water's flow.
Sometime at eve when the tide is low,
I shall slip my moorings and sail away.
Through purple shadows that darkly trail
O'er the ebbing tide of the unknown sea,
And a ripple of waters to tell the tale
Of a lonely voyager, sailing away
To mystic isles, where at anchor lay
The craft of those who had sailed before
O'er the unknown sea to the unknown shore.
A few who have watched me sail away
Will miss my craft from the busy bay;
Some friendly barques were anchored near,
Some loving souls that my heart held dear
In silent sorrow will drop a tear;
But I shall have peacefully furled my sail
In mooring sheltered from the storm and gale,
And greeted friends who had sailed before
O'er the unknown sea to the unknown shore.
Elizabeth Clark Hardy
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