Helen C. Wilde's Obituary
Helen C. Wilde (nee Stemler), 95, died at Oak Hill Care Facility in Waterloo, Illinois, on April 26, 2018. She was born March 31, 1923, to George and Elsie (nee Reichert) Stemler in rural Millstadt, Illinois.
Helen spent most of her life as a homemaker in Columbia, Illinois. She is a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ, where for many years she served on the kitchen committee. She also served as a Girl Scout leader and as a member and volunteer at the Columbia Turner Hall. She and her husband, George, volunteered extensively at the Jefferson Barracks Hospital in St. Louis. Their winter vacations in Arizona and Florida were special to them. Helen also spent many hours donating her services at Columbia Legion Post 581 and the Columbia Nursing Home. Her last years were spent at Garden Place and Oak Hill care facilities in Waterloo.
She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Elsie Stemler, her beloved husband George, who died in 1999, her five brothers-Hurlan, Albert, Homer, Herbert, and Harold, her sister-in-law Marlyn Stemler, brother-in-law Bill Kleinschmidt, and grandson Scott Frenk.
She is survived by her two sisters, Hilma (Sylvester) Kleinschmidt and Helma Kleinschmidt, sisters-in-law Rosalie Stemler and Loretta (Joe) Vogt; her four loving children: Sharon (Doug) Dahm of Swansea, Illinois, Karon (Charles) Frenk of Omaha, Nebraska, Kathy (Bill) Mayor of St. Louis, Missouri, and Ken (Nancy) Wilde of Tucson, Arizona; nine grandchildren: Matt (Rachel), and Andrew Dahm, Jennifer (Clark) Peterson, Deanna (Jim) Sheets, Adam (Lexie) Frenk, John (Julie) Mayor, and Chris (Jacqui) Farrell, Megan (Billy) Balcom, and Sarah Wilde; and twelve great grandchildren. Everyone will miss her warm smile, good humor, and positive attitude.
Visitation will be Sunday, April 29, 2018, 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm, at Lawlor Funeral Home, Columbia, IL, and on Monday, April 30, from 10:00 am - 11:00 am, at St. Paul United Church of Christ, Columbia, IL. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 am, Monday, April 30, 2018, at the church, with Pastor Bob Goddard officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.
In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions be directed to: St. Paul United Church of Christ 127 N. St. Paul Columbia, IL 62236, or, the American Legion Memorial Trust Fund, 375 East Locust, Columbia, IL, 62236. For more information, please access our website, www.leesmanfuneralhome.com.
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