Helen Lenore Dammann

Helen Lenore “Honey” Dammann was welcomed Home by the Lord on Monday, July 29, 2024 in New Braunfels, Texas at the age of 101. She was born on May 17, 1923 to Harry Hubert Cullinan and Florence Viola Heldt Cullinan in Arthur, Nebraska. 

Helen is preceded in death by her husband, Harold Dammann; parents, Harry and Florence Cullinan, siblings, Dorothy Pueppka, Mary Ann Glinn, Mildred Hoffman, Joe Cullinan, and Bob Cullinan.

Left to honor her legacy are her children, Mickey Dammann of San Angelo, Jerry Dammann of McQueeney, Twyla Poe and husband, James, of Luling, Roxanne Dammann of Austin; grandchildren, Chris Salge of San Antonio, Jessica Salge of Fort Worth, James W. Poe and wife Julie of Victoria, Michael Poe and wife Gaby of Seguin, Amy Mitchell and husband Mark of Benbrook, Kimberly Poe and fiancé Guy Sumile of Seguin. She is also survived by 11 great-grandchildren.

Helen was raised on her parents’ homestead, a ranch in the rolling hills of Nebraska. She graduated from high school at the age of 16 and proceeded to get her teaching certification that summer, returning to the same one-room school to teach the next semester. She remarked more than once how smart she felt and how much older she felt even though one of the boys in her class was only a year younger than her. She travelled often with her sisters in the early years and was visiting her sister, Mid, in McQueeney when she met the love of her life, Harold Dammann. She and Harold returned to Nebraska to escort Mid home, and they got married there on April 13, 1947. They returned to a home that friends had finished building while they were gone, and she lived in that home for 77 years, raising her children and living life to the fullest. She was a stay-at-home mom until her youngest started school. She was hired as a teacher’s aide at McQueeney School and worked in that capacity for over 30 years, making close friends and impacting many young lives. When Harold passed in 1995, she continued to live her life, travelling with friends and volunteering at the Guadalupe Regional Hospital and at the Christian Cupboard. She seldom sat still, always doing something. A major decision she made one Sunday morning was to go to the little Baptist church around the corner from her house instead of driving to Seguin. She never looked back. McQueeney Baptist Church became home. She loved her church and served in many capacities over the years including Wedding Coordinator. As she got older, she was amazed that the children of the church would come to visit her at times and was surprised by their interest in her life. She celebrated her 100th birthday in 2023 and it was the surprise and the delight of her life when so many people came to celebrate with her. Helen continued to impact people’s lives even in her last days by making even more friends in the short month she was at Gruene Senior Living. She could never wrap her head around why the Lord kept her here so long. We told her it was because he was not finished with her yet. Now we unequivocally can say you have completed your work here and we celebrate your homecoming!

Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 1, 2024 at Goetz Funeral Home from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. A Service of Remembrance and Celebration will be held on Friday, August 2, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. at McQueeney Baptist Church. Interment will follow at Guadalupe Valley Memorial Park. 

Those who wish to remember Helen in a special way may make gifts in her memory to the McQueeney Baptist Youth Program or Guadalupe Regional Medical Center Volunteer Program.