Isolde Helga Burchell

August 7, 1929 to February 19, 2025 – Helga Burchell passed away peacefully on February 19, 2025 at the age of 95. She was born on August 7, 1929, in Karlsruhe, Germany and experienced living in Germany during WW II.

In 1952 at the age of 23, Helga immigrated to the United States, following her older sister Lori, who had married an American Soldier and moved to Illinois in 1945. Helga fell in love with her new homeland, obtaining her United States citizenship soon after. She taught herself English. Her employment included managing a hotel in Illinois and worked in a photo lab. She lived in Colorado before joining Lori in Fontana, CA.

In California she met the man she would marry in 1963, Dave Burchell. In 1969 they moved to Portland, OR. In 1977 they moved to Gresham, OR where their children attended school and Helga lived there over 4 decades until she moved to central Oregon for the remainder of her life. Dave passed in February of 1998.

Helga is survived by her three daughters, Trish Bernard, Tammy Martin and Kathy Bresaw. She leaves 8 grandchildren, Nicole Eaton, Allicen Murray, Hannah Murray, Mackenzie Martin, Macie Martin, Madison Martin, Kaitlin Poston and Cole Bresaw, as well as 6 great-grandchildren.

Helga was a kind and loving woman, known for her infectious laugh and warm heart. She was incredibly generous, always willing to help others, and brought joy to everyone she met. She touched the lives of many and will be deeply missed by all who knew her.