Gail and Bernice

GAIL HELLE, 15g (George A. 14, Frederick 13)

b.Cuba, IL;  June 1920

d.Peoria, IL;  June 1982

br. Ottawa, IL; St. Columba Cemetery

m.Burlington, IA;  July 1939

MARY BERNICE BARLER, daughter of Harry

Milton and Emma Cecilia (Cunningham) Barler

b.Wyoming, IL;  June 1921

GAIL HELLE envisioned his parents at the time of his birth saying: "George (A. Helle) looked at Mom (Ida Kaler Helle) and said, 'Mom, we have reached perfection--no more EATHER. boys!' Mom looked at me and said, Pop, (she always called horn Gene him Pop) please, no more boys! They get worse with each

one and, my God, look what we got here.' That is why they never had any more boys. They got a couple of girls after that 'cause Mom wanted some dishwashers, but I think we boys did our share of dishes anyway.

Gail grew to manhood in Wyoming, Illinois. where he assisted his father in the hardwood lumber business. He graduated from Wyoming High School in 1938 and in 1939 he married MARY BERNICE BARLER, his high school sweetheart, after her graduation. They became the parents of two daughters before he enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1944. He served in the States until his discharge in November, 1945.

He reentered the family lumber business at Oregon, Illinois, later Savanna, Illinois, and was at Monticello, Iowa. when he passed away in 1982. During the years 1950-1965 he was employed by Midwest Transfer of Chicago, Illinois. His happiest years in his work were probably as manager of the Monticello Wood Products 197 1-1977 and his own company Tn-State Pallet 1977-1979 at Monticello with his wife and son. In the 1970's Gail enjoyed "Scouting" when son, Bob, was in Boy Scouts.

Primarily, Gail was very family oriented and delighted in his children and grandchildren. As a child, Gail attended Sinnett Chapel northwest of Cuba and later the Congregational Church of Wyoming. Illinois. In his last days he expressed a desire to become of the Catholic religion, the religion of his grandparents, wife and children.

Until her marriage to Gail, Bernice, one of two daughters, resided on her parents' farm. Some of the most pleasant memories of her childhood are of accompanying her grandfather, John Barler, on his mail route until he retired in the late 1930's. She graduated from the eighth grade as valedictorian at Sandham School. Never would she again forget how to spell "efficiency" because it was on that word she went down in the spelling bee at Peoria, Illinois, after winning in the county competition. During high school years she enjoyed band, glee club and attaining National Honor Society.

Mary Bernice has been wife, mother, war wife in 1944-1945, homemaker and in the later 1940's organist at St. Mary's Church in Oregon, Illinois. She has assisted Gail in his endeavors--driving many miles for his errands and picking him up at distant points when he arrived from a trip someplace. While in high school, she enjoyed typing, shorthand and bookkeeping and had won many contests. This training was very helpful in the years ahead in their business endeavors and work.

Mary Bernice is affiliated with St. Columba Church of Ottawa, Illinois, where Gail rests in the cemetery there. She and their three daughters reside in Ottawa and son, Bob, lives near Iowa City, Iowa.

Their children are:

MARIGAIL ANN HELLE, l6g

b.Kewanee, IL;  Mar. 1940

LINDA CHERYL HELLE, 16g

b.Peoria, IL;  Nov. 1942

d.      Ottawa, IL  Oct  2005

SANDRA JEANNE HELLE, 16g

b.Kewanee, IL;  Mar. 1946

ROBERT LLOYD HELLE, 16g

b.Ottawa, IL;  Feb. 1956

Mary Bernice writes that Gail thought all their children were to be girls and he loved each and every one of his daughters deeply. However, when his son arrived ten years after the last daughter, he must have been quite moved. Besides always enjoying his work in the lumber and pallet business, the evenings Gail spent with his brothers and families the last five months of his life were memorable to him. Gail, Mary Bernice and family members spent many evenings around their family organ and piano and in the homes of the married children.

Mary Bernice recalled that Gail often mentioned his vivid memory of the family home burning in 1928. Gail always loved books and his treasure of books was destroyed in the fire. Another vivid incident was written by Gail himself:

"One night Walt hollered in his sleep, 'A bear, I'll get him!' Man, I knew it was time to head for safe quarters. I tore downstairs and took off for Mom and Pop's room. In the dining room I saw two great big eyes shining in the dark. I knew I had cornered Walt's bear! I let out a yell, put her in high gear and took off. There was a huge crash! I had hit all the chairs and benches on one side of the table and sent them flying; woke everyone in the house. All my brothers and sisters, Mom, Pop and even Grandma (Kaler) came to help with that bear. Such a commotion you never saw, but they couldn't catch that bear. He really took off. Course, they tried to tell me it was only a cat under the table with his eyes shining in the dark. Try telling that to a five-year old boy when his older brother had already seen that bear!"

Of his wife and family Gail wrote: "When I was in the seventh grade I found the cutest little darkeyed, darkhaired girl I ever saw. She was in the sixth grade. I fell madly in love right then and that was the beginning of the greatest romance of all time. All I could do was give sickening lovesick looks; I did not dare speak to her. When I was a sophomore in high school and she a freshman I finally asked her for a date and she said yes! My dreams came true and we never looked any further. By combining our high and low notes we have made a beautiful song. Our rewards have been many, the greatest being three beautiful daughters, a great son, sons-in-law, a lovely daughter-in-law and beautiful healthy grandchildren, friends galore; so what man could ask for more? Our cup runneth over. The good Lord has blessed my whole life with good parents, brothers and sisters. My in-laws have been dear and treasured friends. Through my own dear family I'm blessed and I thank the Lord every day for the many blessings He has sent my way.

MARIGAIL ANN HELLE, 16g (Gail 15, George A. 14,

Frederick 13)

b.Kewanee, IL;  Mar. 1940

m.Ottawa, IL; St. Columba Church; Sep. 1960

LEONARD EMIL ROBERTS, son of Edward and Fay Minnie (Santschi) Roberts

b.Ottawa, IL;  July 1929

MARIGAIL ANN HELLE is the oldest daughter of Gail and Mary Bernice (Barler) Helle. She attended St. Columba Grade School and graduated from Ottawa Township High School. She received her Associate of Arts degree from Illinois Valley Community College and her Bachelor of Science in Education from Northern Illinois University at Dekaib graduating Magna cum laude. She attended DePaul University in Chicago. She is a teacher of English, Spanish and Art at Shepher Junior High School in Ottawa where she lives with her husband LEONARD EMIL ROBERTS and sons. Leonard was educated in Ottawa, Illinois, and graduated from Illinois Valley Community College. He served in the United States Army during the Korean conflict. He is employed at Libbey-Owens-Ford Glass Company in Ottawa. Their sons were born:

ROBERT LEONARD ROBERTS, I 7g

b.Ottawa, IL;  Apr. 1961

STEPHEN PAUL ROBERTS, 17g

b.Ottawa, IL;  Dec. 1967

Marigail considers being the oldest child of Gail and Bernice a unique experience. She got to visit her parents and Aunt Maxine and Uncle Gene Helle in Maui, Hawaii, and loved spending time walking the beaches with". . . my Dad, the dearest man and friend I ever had."

Marigail taught summer school in Vera Cruz, Mexico in 1981; an experience she enjoyed greatly.

LINDA CHERYL HELLE, 16g (Gail 15, George A. 14.

Frederick 13)

b.Peoria, IL;  Nov. 1942

d.      Ottawa, IL  Oct  2005

m.1st - Peter Frecchio;  Jan. 1960. dv. Aug. 1960

m.2nd - Ottawa, IL;  Feb. 1963

EDWARD JOHN PARTAK, son of August and Margaret Rita (Muerer) Partak

b.Joliet, IL; Aug. 1935

LINDA CHERYL HELLE, the second daughter of Gail and Mary Bernice (Barler) Helle, always wanted to be able to do the things her dad could do. One time when her parents were painting the living room she observed her dad use a power drill with an attachment to mix the paint. Wanting to be of help, the next morning Linda got up early and, as everyone slept. she started to mix the paint with the drill. "That drill got away so fast I ended up with paint all over. Mom was rather unhappy, to say the least, but I think Dad was just a little proud that I was trying to imitate him," she recalls.

Linda was so anxious to see her new baby brother that the day he was to be brought home, she left school early. went to the hospital and was sitting in the back seat of the car waiting for Bob and her parents. Bob has always held a special place in her heart. She remembers well her father's love of family. He always taught her love of country and love of God, too.

Linda first married at age seventeen and was divorced before the birth of her first child:

KATHERINE JEANNE FRECCHIO, 17g

b.Ottawa, IL;  Nov. 1960

d.Ottawa, IL;  Feb. 1962

br. Ottawa, IL; St. Columba Cemetery

Kathy had been sick only two days with a flu which other family members had contracted, and she was put into the hospital and died the next day despite the efforts of four doctors. At the time the doctors called the illness pneumonia only because they needed an explanation on the death certificate. Since then, an illness called Reye Syndrome has been identified and is more probably the cause of Kathy's death. Linda expresses well what those who have lost an infant feel,

people who lose children are expected to snap out of it more quickly than other losses.. . most people have very little understanding of how really devastating a loss people who lose children really go through."

In 1963 Linda married EDWARD JOHN PARTAK, a first generation American, his father having been born in Czechoslovakia. His mother's grandfather immigrated to the

United States about the time Frederick and Katharine (Krauser) Helle immigrated. Ed is a graduate of Joliet High School and served in the United States Navy. He is employed

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