Louise A Helke
July 7, 1919 — August 24, 2016
Louise Amelia Helke, 97, of rural Coal Valley, IL, died Wednesday, August 24, 2016, at home.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, August 28, 2016, at Kirk, Huggins & Esterdahl Funeral Home, Ltd., 1301 4th Street, Orion, IL. Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, August 27, 2016, at the funeral home. Burial will be at Western Township Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Hospice Compassus.
Louise was born on July 7, 1919 in Mormon Coulee near La Crosse, WI, the daughter of Ludwig “Louis” Wilhelm “William” and Ida Katherine Dengel Kunert. She attended Valley View Grade School in Coon Valley, WI, and later graduated from La Crosse Central High School in 1937. On November 20, 1939, she married Willard Carl Helke at the Trinity Reformed Church in Mormon Coulee. He preceded her in death on April 20, 1981. Together, they farmed in rural Coal Valley.
Louise was a member of St. Peter’s Evangelical Community Church, in Geneseo, IL, where she was also a member of St. Peter’s Women’s Group. She also belonged to Women of the Moose in Geneseo. Louise especially enjoyed writing in her journal and playing cards.
Survivors include her sons, Robert Helke, Coal Valley, IL, Terry (Joni) Helke, Coal Valley, IL, and Arlyn (Marcia) Helke, Geneseo, IL; daughter-in-law, Diana Helke, Coal Valley, IL; 7 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren; sisters, Frieda Schultz, Mishawaka, IN, and Dorothy Weiland, La Crosse, WI; many nephews and nieces.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; son, Richard Helke; brothers, Carl and Albert Kunert; sisters, Laura Nortman Thompson and Irma Williams; niece, Maureen Kunert; nephew, Duane “Duey” Williams.
The family would like to send a special thank you to all of the nurses and staff at Hospice Compassus as well as Dr. Max McCaw and staff for all of their wonderful care.
Memories may be shared online by visiting esterdahl.com.