Helen L Bressler (Fleming)

Helen Bressler (Fleming) (July 29, 1931-April 11, 2022) died peacefully at home in the care of her loving family at the age of 90 Yrs. She was a longtime resident of Delafield and previously lived in Brookfield. She grew up in West Allis and graduated from West Allis Central in 1948. Helen spent years living in West Allis while raising her four children and working alongside her first husband, Dave Fleming, in the locally popular family business, Fleming’s A&W Restaurant.

Until her final years, Helen had a very active life of fitness and sports, including downhill skiing, weight lifting, running, roller skating, and Taekwondo. After Dave died, Helen pursued competition in Senior Olympics of Wisconsin, and it was there that she met another fit and competitive “senior”, Charlie Bressler. Charlie was a runner and Helen, at the age of 64, was a first-place sprinter and shot putter. She was smitten by this “cute” runner who was 9 years her junior. They were married July 5, 1997. In 1998, Helen was diagnosed with bladder cancer and became a survivor after a unique major reconstructive surgery that allowed her to adapt and continue her active life without a bladder.

Helen was most proud when she received her 1st degree black belt in Taekwondo at the age of 76 Yrs. old and her 4th degree at 81 Yrs. old. She and Charlie continued a very active and full life together until the last few years. She continued going to her gym 3 times per week to work out and lift weights until the age of 86.

Helen was known for always dressing up in her vibrant and color-coordinated outfits, complete with jewelry, shoes, purses and hats to match, and frequently Charlie would be dressed to match her colors and style as well. She loved Elvis, reading mystery novels, day trips with Charlie to the Renaissance Faire (dressed in full costume of course!) trips to Branson, MO and the mission trips with the Delafield Presbyterian Church where she and Charlie have been members for years. In her final years as she became less active, her favorite activity with Charlie was watching the Packers, Badgers, Brewers and the Bucks…and of course she did have spirit wear for each team.

Helen was preceded in death by her first husband, David Fleming, her daughter, Deborah Fleming, and her parents, Dorothy and Lloyd “Bud” Wallace. She is survived by her husband and sport buddy, Charles Bressler and her children, Holly Patzer, Sandra LaVallee (Steve), and Jim Fleming (Eleanor). She is further survived by her seven grandchildren, Kendra McGirr, Miles Patzer, Collin LaVallee, Ariana LaVallee, Michelle Fleming, Carmella Fleming and Nathan Fleming. She was also great grandma (“GG”) to her “sweet little girls” Lilah and Camille Singer. She is further survived by her sisters, Nancy Knotek and Ann Leitz-Workman and sister-in-law Audrey Raasch, in addition to nieces, nephews and numerous friends.

We will all miss our wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend. We will miss her flair and her energetic spirit. She was a fierce competitor and a resilient survivor, defying the odds by never giving up…until it was finally time.

Special thanks to her long-time family physician, Dr. Paul Doenier, for his years of compassionate care and helping her navigate the challenges of her post-cancer life.

Private family services will be held.