Charlotte and Harrison

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

b.Cuba, IL;  Dec. 1921

m.Donnelson. IA;  June 1938

HARRISON ELROY OSBORN, son of Harrison Elroy and Retta H. (Ryan) Osborn, Sr.

b.Rural Stark Co., IL; 8Dec. 1916

CHARLOTTE FLORENCE HELLE, twelfth child and second daughter of George A. and Ida (Kaler) Helle, was nicknamed Miss Chicago by her older brothers because she had a fiery temper, ". . . I had to have so I wouldn't get lost in the shuffle. With ten older brothers and a sister, I think I nearly did anyway. I was so tiny people would have missed me anyway except for my big black eyes." Charlotte's early childhood was spent on the family farm northwest of Cuba, Illinois; thirteen children, parents and maternal grandmother-Nancy Paulina (Bayless) Kaler (1844-1935) lived crowded but happy."

When about four years of age, Charlotte was given a lamb which had been rejected by its mother. Bottle-fed by Charlotte, the lamb, named Jimmy, followed her everywhere. When oldest brother, Lloyd, announced that it was time to cut the lamb's tail off, Charlotte refused to allow it and guarded Jimmy zealously. Late in the day she was talking to sister, Ethel, and momentarily distracted. Suddenly remembering, she realized Jimmy was out of sight and she went in search of him but was too late. She completely rejected the lamb and he was put out with the rest of the flock.

Charlotte recalls that her younger sister, June, was the opposite in looks and temperament of Charlotte herself. 'June and Ethel looked more like our Pop, I guess. June was blonde with hazel eyes, Ethel was fair with blue eyes. When I was ten and June was eight, she already weighed about two pounds more than I. June was witty, I had to rely on my temper or stubbornness. Sweet, loveable and cuddly, June made friends easily. I was a daydreamer, June was alert. I used to envy her.

In August of 1932, .... . when June was eight and I was ten, we came down with sore throats and high temperatures. Mom called the nice young doctor in our small town of Wyoming, Illinois. The doctor came every day. We lay sharing a bed with our devoted mother taking care of us. Several times she asked the doctor, 'Are you sure it isn't diphtheria?' The doctor always reassured her.

"Finally, one day we felt better and got up and played with our dolls and little dishes. June finally said, 'I'm tired. I'm going back to bed.' I was frustrated, but she went to

bed anyway. She never ever got up again. The next day June was taken to the hospital and died a day later. Her illness had been diphtheria."

Eight years old when the family moved to Bureau County, Charlotte attended grade and high school in Wyoming, Illinois. She married HARRISON ELROY OSBORN in 1938.

Bother, Gail, wrote a graphic account of Charlotte's marriage to Harrison: "She went off one day and came back with this skinny guy as a husband. Now Harrison always blamed me for this. He was looking for a job one day and I told him Dad might be able to use him. I didn't know he was going to join our family, raise those girls and even throw in a boy besides. That was strictly their doings. What a break that was for the Helle Family though. He has not only been a good kind husband and father but he has also been our friend.

'He was devoted to our Mom and took her into his house. He gave her love, kindness, and a 'home,' not just for a while but for almost thirty years. His only reward was her love for him and the respect we all owe him and Charlotte for this unselfish act. Only Harrison Osborn could have shown our mother this type of consideration. Thanks."

Harrison joined the family lumbering and sawmill business, had his own sawmill at one time and in later years worked for Wood Products Co. in Savanna where he and Charlotte reside. They are the parents of:

CAROL JUNE OSBORN, 16g

b.Kewanee, IL;  Dec. 1938

SHARON KAYE OSBORN, 16g

b.Savanna, IL; Jan. 1942

GEORGE ELROY OSBORN, 16g

b.Savanna, IL; May 1944

CRYSTAL DAWN OSBORN, 16g

b.Savanna, IL;  July 1947

"We Remember . .

Sharon K. (Osborn) Bearce, daughter

My mother, a special lady, should have been a college professor. I don't think there is a word she cannot spell and she is a walking telephone book. She has lived her life as my grandmother did, with her family as the most important people in her life. She is a pushover. I am afraid the grandchildren have sometimes taken advantage of her generosity. Each of them return her love with obvious devotion.

My dad, the host who makes the coffee, the plumber or carpenter when I need work done, but most of all a kind and tenderhearted man who is also my friend.

Crystal D. (Osborn) Lovejoy, daughter

I will always remember the Christmases at my parents. The whole family gets together usually around 20-30 and the gifts fill the whole end of the living room. The little children are always a pleasure to watch and grow more each Christmas.

We lived across the road from a cemetery. I will always remember taking water over in jugs to the caretakers and playing hide and seek at night behind the stones with the neighbors and friends and family.

Many evenings my teenage sisters, Carol and Sharon, would bring their friends to our home. My mother would play her baby grand piano, my dad would play the mouth harp and the kids would all sing; popular songs of the day and hymns.

CAROL JUNE OSBORN, 16g (Charlotte Helle 15, George

A.14, Frederick 13)

b.Kewanne, IL: Dec. 1938

m.Peoria, IL;  June 1956

RAY ANDERSON, son of Elmar and Viola (Moore) Anderson

b.DeWitt, IA;  Jan. 1937 Carol and Ray are the parents of:

DARYL S. ANDERSON, 17g

b.Peoria, IL;  Feb. 1957

CHERYL D. ANDERSON, 17g

b.Peoria, IL;  May 1959

DAVID R. ANDERSON, 17g

b.DeWitt, IA;  Sep. 1960

CHERYL D. ANDERSON, 17g (Carol Osborn 16, Charlotte

Helle 15, George A. 14, Frederick 13)

b.Peoria, IL;  May 1959

m.Savanna, IL;July 1978

M.JOHN BOWMAN, son of Milo and Arta Lou Bowman

b.Savanna, IL;1959

Cheryl and John are the parents of:

JOHN DAVID BOWMAN, 18g

b.Savanna, IL; Feb. 1979

MICHELLE LYNN BOWMAN, 18g

b.Clinton, IA;  1982

SHARON KAYE OSBORN, 16g (Charlotte Helle 15,

George A. 14, Frederick 13)

b.Savanna, IL;  Jan. 1942

m.1st - Peoria, IL;  Mar. 1959. dv.  Sep. 1965

GAYLORD "GALE" C. BEARCE, son of

Clarence C. and Beatrice (Shipp) Bearce

b.Mason City, IL; Jan. 1939

m.2nd - Apr. 1968. dv. Nov. 1975

ROGER DWANE BAKER, son of Milford and Dorothy (Skoville) Baker

b. June 1938

SHARON KAYE OSBORN, like her Uncle Royle Helle, writes poetic letters. She is employed by the Federal Government as a civil engineering technician and facility management assistant at the Savanna Army Depot in Savanna, illinois. She wrote briefly of herself: "As a child I remember so many wonderful times when aunts and uncles came to visit at my parents' home. We were fortunate enough to have my grandmother, Ida Helle, living with us until her death at the age of ninety-three. Many felt Grandma would have been a burden on us. I can only say that she gave us more than we ever could have given her. Love is the keyword to the family I was born into. It is endless, unlimited and over-

ly abundant. How lucky we are to be part of this family." Sharon and Gale had three sons:

RONALD KEVIN BEARCE, 17g

b.Peoria, IL;  Feb. 1960

ROBERT GALE BEARCE, 17g

b.San Jose, CA; Jan. 1961

DANNY K. BEARCE, 17g

b.Savanna, IL; Aug. 1965

Sharon and Roger had a daughter:

LORELET K. BAKER, 17g

b.Clinton, IA;  Jan. 1969

RONALD KEVIN BEARCE, 17g (Sharon Osborn 16,

Charlotte Helle 15, George A. 14, Frederick 13)

b.Peoria, IL; Feb. 1960

m.Houma, LA; Sep. 1982

PAMELA WILSON, daughter of Ulmer and Hazel Louise (Harris) Wilson

b.New Orleans, LA: July 1959 Ronald and Pam are the parents of:

KELLY DIANNA BEARCE, 18g

b.Houma, LA; Mar. 1983

ROBERT GALE BEARCE, 17g (Sharon Osborn 16,

Charlotte Helle 15, George A. 14, Frederick 13)

b.San Jose, CA;  Jan. 1961

m.Pekin, IL;  Aug. 1981

LAURIE DIETRICH

b.Pekin, IL;1963

ROBERT GALE BEARCE graduated from Pekin High School and is employed by Morton Buildings Corporation of Pekin, Illinois. He married LAURIE DIETRICH in 1981. They are the parents of:

BRIAN KEITH BEARCE, 18g

b.Pekin, IL;  Jan. 1982

GEORGE ELROY OSBORN, 16g (Charlotte Helle 15,

George A. 14, Frederick 13)

b.Savanna, IL;  May 1944

m.1st - BILLIE REYNOLDS

m.2nd - BEVERLY GOETZ

m.3rd - Savanna, IL;  July 1979 ALICE SHULLSBERG

George has two children:

DEREK OSBORN, 17g

b.Savanna, IL;  Mar. 1963

DEBRA SUE OSBORN, 17g

b.Savanna, IL; May 1972

DEREK OSBORN, 17g (George 16, Charlotte Helle 15,

George A. 14, Frederick 13)

b.Savanna, IL;  Mar. 1963

m.Savanna, IL;  May 1983

TRACI FOLEY, daughter of Jessie and Margaret Foley

b.Savanna, IL;  May 1965

continued