Helen Shoberg

Helen (Demmink) Shoberg, 103, of Cedarville, died peacefully on Wednesday, August 17, 2022, at Cedar Cove Assisted Living in Cedarville. She was the daughter of Herman and Clara Demmink of Grand Rapids, MI, where she attended Central High School and earned a secretarial certificate at Davenport Business College. In October of 1942, Helen married Conrad Shoberg, of Cedarville, at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Broad Creek, Maryland, where Conrad was stationed before going overseas as a captain with the army in WWII. After the war, they lived in Mt. Prospect, Illinois, where Con worked for a new company: IBM. When Con had the opportunity to purchase his parents’ resort (Victor and Anna Shoberg) on Islington Road in Cedarville, the family moved to the Eastern Upper Peninsula. Helen and Conrad owned and operated Shoberg Resort from 1950 to the mid to late 1980s. They were members of the First Union Church in Cedarville, where Helen taught Sunday school and sang in the church choir. Helen and Con were both extremely community-minded. Helen was past-president of the Les Cheneaux Chamber of Commerce. During her tenure as president, she was approached by Ken Horsburgh and Charles Letts, Sr. about the idea of starting an antique boat show. The Chamber did the footwork for the first show, and after turning over the reins to the Les Cheneaux Historical Association, the rest is history. Helen served on the board of the Les Cheneaux Historical Association and was one of the first members of the Les Cheneaux Arts Council when it formed. She also volunteered at the Les Cheneaux Community Library; at Les Cheneaux Community Schools, reading to young students; at Cedar Cove Assisted Living, calling Bingo; and has been active in various other community and church organizations throughout the years. She and Conrad were members of the Les Cheneaux Yacht Club and the Les Cheneaux Islands Association. Always ready for something new, Helen enjoyed traveling, walking with friends, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, knitting, crafting, reading, writing stories and histories, making pottery, and painting beautiful watercolors. Many will remember her weekly column in the St. Ignace News, which she wrote for almost 20 years, even after taking an apartment at Cedar Cove. One of her greatest joys was listening to her brother, Jack Demmink, play swing music on his trumpet. He played on her deck on summer evenings when he visited from Grand Rapids. She loved dancing to swing music, especially that of “Old Blue Eyes.” She had many stories about dancing to the big bands growing up, at outdoor pavilions on the shores of Lake Michigan. Helen liked a good party and being with friends, especially the “Wednesday Nighters” and the “Friday Night Group.” When asked by many what her secret to longevity was, she often answered with “just keep going,” which she did. Helen was always active, open to new things, adjusting to changes, and finding the life in Life. She was preceded in death by her husband, Conrad Shoberg; three children, Mary, Robert, and Elizabeth; a daughter-in-law, Varaporn Shoberg; and a son-in-law, Jerome Hollingsworth. Helen is survived by her son, Richard Shoberg; her daughter, Joanna (Kenneth) Izzard; and a son-in-law, William Oberman. She has 9 grandchildren: Mark (Taylor) Oberman, Samuel (Maureen) Oberman, Jessica (Matthew) Bocian, Maxwell (Carrie) Shoberg, Zachary Shoberg, Joshua (Leah) Izzard, Lauren (Dustin) Tassier, David (Tiffany) Hollingsworth, and James Hollingsworth. Helen has 10 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. Memorial services will be held at First Union Church in Cedarville on Saturday, August 27, 2022. Visitation is from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm with services at 2:00. A light luncheon will be served. The family will retire to a private ceremony at Cedar Cemetery after the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Cedar Cove Assisted Living (Memorial Garden Fund), to the Les Cheneaux Ambulance Corp, to the Les Cheneaux Community Library, to the Les Cheneaux Historical Association, or to First Union Church. Galer Funeral Homes & Cremation in Pickford, Michigan, is serving the family. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.galerfuneralhomes.com.

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Helen Shoberg

December 2, 1918 - August 17, 2022