GAIL HELLE, 15g (George A. 14, Frederick 13)
b. 23 June 1920; Cuba, IL
m. 20 July 1939 in Burlington, Iowa; MARY BERNICE BARLER, daughter of Harry Milton and Emma Cecilia (Cunningham) Barler
b. 18 June 1921; Wyoming, IL; d. 14 July 2012; Pleasant View, IL; br. St. Columba Cemetery; Ottawa, IL
d. 10 June 1982; Peoria, IL
br. St. Columba Cemetery; Ottawa, IL
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. 14 March 1940; Kewanee, IL
LINDA CHERYL HELLE, 16g
b. 24 Nov 1942; Peoria, IL
d. 28 Oct 2005; Peoria, IL
br. St. Columba Cemetery; Ottawa, IL
SANDRA JEANNE "JEANNIE" HELLE, 16g
b. 08 March 1946; Kewanee, IL
ROBERT LLOYD "BOB" HELLE, 16g
b. 17 Feb 1956; Ottawa, IL
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.
b. 23 June 1920; Cuba, IL
m. 20 July 1939 in Burlington, Iowa; MARY BERNICE BARLER, daughter of Harry Milton and Emma Cecilia (Cunningham) Barler
b. 18 June 1921; Wyoming, IL; d. 14 July 2012; Pleasant View, IL; br. St. Columba Cemetery; Ottawa, IL
d. 10 June 1982; Peoria, IL
br. St. Columba Cemetery; Ottawa, IL
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. 14 March 1940; Kewanee, IL
LINDA CHERYL HELLE, 16g
b. 24 Nov 1942; Peoria, IL
d. 28 Oct 2005; Peoria, IL
br. St. Columba Cemetery; Ottawa, IL
SANDRA JEANNE "JEANNIE" HELLE, 16g
b. 08 March 1946; Kewanee, IL
ROBERT LLOYD "BOB" HELLE, 16g
b. 17 Feb 1956; Ottawa, IL
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.
Gail, Bernice and Marigail
Gail, Bernice, Marigail and Linda
Gail and Linda
Gail and Bob Helle
Gail and Jeannie
