Helen Grace Baltz

Helen Grace Baltz

August 19, 1928 — June 11, 2025

Helen Grace Baltz, nee McIlvride (b. Aug 19, 1928 - d. Jun 11, 2025) was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. Born in Hazel Park, MI, as the youngest of two children, Grace was always known for her kind spirit, dedication to others, and her faith in God.

After completing high school, where she was a star basketball player, Grace attended Henry Ford Hospital School of Nursing and achieved her nursing degree. In the summer of 1948, Grace met the love of her life, John Alan Baltz, who was working a summer job at Detroit's Henry Ford hospital where Grace was working as a nurse trainee. They married in 1952. Soon after marrying, Grace joined John who had entered the US Marine Corps where he was stationed in Miami. Grace and John returned to Detroit where they started a family. Their loving relationship produced three sons, John, Robert, and David.

Grace and John built a life together while living in several different locations including Detroit, Chicago, New York, Tennessee, South Carolina, and finally, Denver, Colorado. Grace, John, and their sons would call Denver home since 1968. Grace was very active in the Presbyterian Church, with her faith guiding her and her family. Along the way, Grace and John also became accomplished at square dancing. It was one of many things they enjoyed together, and their love of dancing never left them.

For many years, Grace concentrated on raising her three sons and took a break from her nursing profession. As her sons became older, nursing called her back for service. Grace went back to school and regained her nursing license. Being committed to raising her family, Grace sacrificed herself by working the night shift at Lutheran Hospital. This allowed her to stay actively involved with her family.

Grace and John loved to travel. Throughout their marriage, John and Grace traveled extensively with their children throughout the US. Later in life, John and Grace traveled extensively outside the US, including locations in Europe and SE Asia.

Grace was an outstanding role model for her children and grandchildren. She instilled in them the importance of faith, kindness, and compassion for others. Because of her love for them, each child and grandchild loved Grace for her commitment to them. She is the reason they are each successful, full of the same love and passion for life that Grace exuded.

However, none of this could match the love she had for her husband. From the earliest days, Grace and John formed a partnership based on love, mutual respect, and undying commitment to one another. It would see them through more than 70 years together. It was a life full of many highs, and very few lows. Through it all, their love of one another created joy for themselves, their children, their children's families. And it is for this loving relationship, the one between Grace and John, that she will forever be most remembered.

Grace is home now, with John, in God's hands. She leaves behind an indelible imprint on her family that will be passed on. There is no better way to honor the life and spirit of the woman we called Mom and Grandma.

We love you!

John, Robert, and family

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