Obituary of Helen Lucille Roubicek

Helen Lucille Roubicek, nee Schultz, was born March 30, 1922, on her family's farm in Walton, Nebraska. She was a true child of the Depression—always careful to buy only what she really needed and to make do and recycle whenever possible. She was the first in her family to graduate from college, where she met the love of her life, Carl Roubicek. Their courtship was interrupted by WWII during which Carl served for more than four years in the Pacific Theater and Helen worked as a home economics teacher in rural Nebraska. Helen and Carl married in 1945 and lived in Kansas, Minnesota, Wyoming and Colorado during the next six years—having three children along the way—as Carl finished his graduate education and began his career as a teacher and researcher in Animal Science. In 1953, Carl accepted a faculty position at the University of Arizona and their family of five moved to the burgeoning desert town of Tucson. In a hurry to find a place to live, they bought a house on the east side of town (now Central Tucson) which was to be Helen's home for the next 59 years! First and foremost, Helen was a caring and devoted homemaker. In addition to sewing all of the clothes for her growing family, making bread and delicious home-cooked meals every day, and volunteering at her kid's schools, Helen was also a consummate gardener. Now that she was in the desert she became an expert on desert plants, particularly cacti. With Carl behind the shovel and Helen with a trowel, they transformed their yard into a desert showpiece. At one time Helen had two greenhouses filled with cactus specimens and grafting experiments. In the 1960's her garden was featured in Sunset Magazine and she was profiled in the local paper for her amazing collection of cacti. She also became an avid quilter, creating a number of beautiful quilts treasured by her family and friends. After Carl's death in 1980, Helen continued to pursue her interests in gardening, sewing, quilting and baking as well as doing some traveling. She was especially close to her granddaughter Cara who spent many happy hours in Grandma Helen's kitchen and sewing room. Helen developed a tailoring business out of her home and her greatest pleasure came from helping people with special fitting needs. Her life had many challenges—including three hip replacements—but she was never one to complain or put the spotlight on herself. You could always count on a nice word and lovely smile from Helen. In 2012, after almost sixty years in her beloved home, Helen moved to an assisted living facility close by. Much to the family's delight her grandson Carl (and Nadia) moved into the family home. Helen is survived by her three children, Dennis (and Janet), Evan, and Nancy Laney (and Timothy Dennehy), four grandchildren, Laura Roubicek, Lisa Roubicek, Cara Thede, and Carl Roubicek, and three greatgrandchildren, Rebecca and Rachel Stout, and Quinn Thede. She is also survived by Jerry Laney who will always be part of the family, and Angie Martinez, her trusted friend and caregiver. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.