Helen C. Carlson

Helen C. Carlson, 89, of East Moline, formerly of Orion, IL, died Tuesday, December 12, 2017, at Hope Creek Care Center, East Moline, IL.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. with a visitation one hour prior to the service Saturday, December 16, 2017, at Kirk, Huggins & Esterdahl Funeral Home, Ltd., 1301 4th Street, Orion.  Burial will be at Western Township Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Make-A-Wish or to Prairie Land Hospice Foundation, 755 N Henderson St., Galesburg, IL, 61401.

Helen was born on December 25, 1927, in Kewanee, IL, the daughter of Hiram R. and Ruby B. Johnston Calcutt.  She married Richard E. Carlson on September 22, 1945, in Orion, and he preceded her in death on November 24, 2012.

Helen graduated from Marycrest College in 1961 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree and from Western Illinois University in 1975 with a Master of Science Degree.  She taught for the East Moline School District #37 from 1956 to 1961.  She worked for the Orion School District #223 from 1961 to 1965, where she taught 7th and 8th grades.  She later worked at the East Moline School District from 1965 to 1983, where she taught grades 4, 6, 7, and 8, until she retired.

Helen was a member of Orion United Methodist Church and lead Bible Study at Heritage Woods.  She also attended Trinity United Methodist Church in Milan.  She has been a member of OES #93 in Orion, since 1955, and a Life Member of the Orion VFW Auxiliary as well as the NEA – IEA.  She and her husband enjoyed traveling and trailered to Florida, Texas, and Arizona prior to purchasing property in Arizona, where they wintered for several years.

Survivors include her son, Paul L. (Toni) Carlson, Lynn Center, IL; daughter, Janet L. (Tony) Bradley, Flintville, TN; 10 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; son, Harold R.; granddaughter, Kimberly Carlile; grandson, Ryan Carlson; sister, Nancy.

Memories may be shared online by visiting esterdahl.com.