JOSEPH ARLIE HELLE, 15g (George A. 14, Frederick 13)
b.Smithfield, IL; Jan. 1906
m.1st - Carthage, IL; Aug. 1930 MYRTLE MURIEL BOLON, daughter of Perry and Alta (McCance) Bolon
b.Smithfield, IL; Oct. 1905
d.Canton, IL; Mar. 1965
br. Smithfield, IL; Baughman Cemetery
m.2nd - 6 Oct. 1965 HENRIETTA (STEVENSON) JACKSON; b.Fiatt, IL; Nov. 1920
JOSEPH "JOE" ARLIE HELLE was the third son of George Adam and Ida (Kaler) Helle.
He writes: "How to condense seventy - seven active years into a short article xvering the many activities of a large family during the
period 1906, when I came to Smithfield barefooted and barebottomed, up to the present 1983? One of thirteen children, ten boys and three girls. When five sons overflowed the village of Smithfield in a few short years, Dad took his growing family to the country for more space. I never knew if the move was by request or by choice.
"I had the usual experiences of going to a country school, a little high school and then a dropout. Then a much larger school; the school of hard work and hard knocks. We grew up with steam threshing machines and sawmills trying to keep up with the many problems that are a part of life.
"I married a country girl, MYRTLE MURIEL BOLON, in1930. I continued in sawmill and lumber business, bought a couple of farms along the way which were mostly timbered. With ill health in the family and no children, I quit the lumber business and devoted my time to farming which was my first love."
======================================================================
Joe and Henrietta
"After the death of Myrtle, I married HENRIETTA (STEVENSON) JACKSON, a widow with two sons. Eventually I sold one farm, rented the other and retired to Cuba. I question retirement being a time of leisure."
On 14 July 1966 Joe deeded to Smithfield eight lots as a playground at the south side of the village in memory of his deceased wife, Myrtle. The land was developed into a ballfield for the young people of the Smithfield area. To show their appreciation for the gift, the citizens of Smithfield named the playground Helle Park and dedicated it 4 October 1985. The dedication was a complete surprise to Joe as all involved kept the secret from him prior to the day of dedication. On that day he was asked to check on "problems" along the Spoon River Scenic Drive route and kept away until just minutes before the dedication ceremony. It was a fitting tribute to a deserving
man.
"I Remember ..."
Gail Helle, brother
Joe was the Rock of Gibralter, the responsible guy, a good second father; always looked after us. One time Gene, as a small boy, climbed the silo. As he reached the top, Joe was coming in with a load of hay. Gene slipped and by the time he hit the ground, Joe had made it across the barnyard and was waiting for him. (Gene stood up at the supper table that night!)
In the dark days of the depression Joe would come on Sunday and have new overalls for us boys and dresses for Charlotte and June. I can merely say, "Thank you, Big Brother."
You always stood tall in the saddle to all your kid brothers.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joseph Helle
CUBA, IL
Joseph A Helle, 94, of 714 E Harrison St. Died at 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2000 at Graham Hospital Extended Care in Canton.
Born Jan 8, 1906, in Smithfield to George and Ida Kaler Helle, Joe married Myrtle Bolon in Cartage, IL. She died March 15, 1965.
Joe later married Henrietta Stevenson Jackson in Smithfield. She survives. Also surviving are two stepsons, John (and Becky) Jackson
of Morton and Edwin (and Kay) Jackson of San Diego; three step-children, one step-great-granddaughter and one brother, Gene of
Arkansas.
Eight brothers and three sisters preceded Joe in death, Joe owned and operated Spoon River Lumber Co. in rural Smithfield for many years and also farmed in the area. Joe was a member of the Fulton Farm Bureau and the Fulton County Cancer Society, he was also a former president of the Historical Genealogical Society, Spoon River Scenic Drive Association Fulton County Health Department and the Western Illinois Hereford Association.
In 1966 Joe donated land to the village of Smithfield, which was named Helle Park.
Joe attended Cuba Church of the Nazarene, where services will be at 10:30 Saturday. The Revs Ralph Hill and Chris Jackson will officiate.
Memorials may be made to Cuba Church of the Nazarene, or Clayberg Fulton County Nursing Home
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joe's nephew Dwight Helle wrote the below:
A small church in Cuba served as the background for Joe Helle's final tribute. In attendance were the surviving brother, 4 of his children, and 9 other nieces and nephews along with their spouses. Equally represented were about 40 members of the community. When you live to 94 you outlive your peers it seems. I counted 80 people in the little church. My detractors will tell you I am a number freak. They would be right (all 17 of them.)
Cousin Dave was the main speaker. He regaled the audience with stories of Joe's wit and generosity. Helle funerals are the only ones I have ever attended that laughter is commonplace. Dave has a dry wit and delivered the punch lines with a boyish grin that charmed the audience and made us all feel that we were celebrating Joe's life, not mourning his death. One of the stepsons followed Dave and truly made us aware of how great a father that he was. I felt like I was witnessing Opie's eulogy of Andy right down to pulling catfish out of the river. Uncle Royal would have been proud to have seen his granddaughter play the piano while her two sons sang the hymn. This
author was moved by the selection of old country melodies that were selected.
The congregation sang amazing Grace. The third line is particularly poignant for funerals. As we exited the church we heard the refrains from days gone by. The biggest plus of all was we did not hear what Joann and I call the Andy song. ("Andy walked with me, Andy talked with me -------).
After the graveside services some of us wandered the cemetery grounds in search of grandparents long lost. It happens that this cemetery contains the remains of great grandfather Fred Helle and also Nellie Helle's parents and grandparents. For this author that is a lot of grandparents. I also found the tombstone of a young man that I went around the world with aboard a Navy ship. (He was lost to lethal combination of alcohol and gasoline, a curve, a motorcycle, etc.)
The gathering back at the church was where the ties came off and the stories came out. By sheer chance I happened to sit next to Uncle Gene and so I got a chance to hear some stories. By the way, he is 82 and does have a mother-in-law. (Note to Maurice: That beats the 70 year-old with his father story). After many stories a lady approached us whom was born a Helle. Her dad would have been Gene and Joe's first cousin. She noted that not only was Gene the last of the 13 children of George and Ida, but also the last of all of his first cousins. (In our generation that is 49, probably closer to 100 in his). I was reluctant to explain that to Uncle Gene, but he seemed ok
with it as he remarked, "Well we know who is next, don't we." And yes, he had a twinkle in his eye.
Dwight
b.Smithfield, IL; Jan. 1906
m.1st - Carthage, IL; Aug. 1930 MYRTLE MURIEL BOLON, daughter of Perry and Alta (McCance) Bolon
b.Smithfield, IL; Oct. 1905
d.Canton, IL; Mar. 1965
br. Smithfield, IL; Baughman Cemetery
m.2nd - 6 Oct. 1965 HENRIETTA (STEVENSON) JACKSON; b.Fiatt, IL; Nov. 1920
JOSEPH "JOE" ARLIE HELLE was the third son of George Adam and Ida (Kaler) Helle.
He writes: "How to condense seventy - seven active years into a short article xvering the many activities of a large family during the
period 1906, when I came to Smithfield barefooted and barebottomed, up to the present 1983? One of thirteen children, ten boys and three girls. When five sons overflowed the village of Smithfield in a few short years, Dad took his growing family to the country for more space. I never knew if the move was by request or by choice.
"I had the usual experiences of going to a country school, a little high school and then a dropout. Then a much larger school; the school of hard work and hard knocks. We grew up with steam threshing machines and sawmills trying to keep up with the many problems that are a part of life.
"I married a country girl, MYRTLE MURIEL BOLON, in1930. I continued in sawmill and lumber business, bought a couple of farms along the way which were mostly timbered. With ill health in the family and no children, I quit the lumber business and devoted my time to farming which was my first love."
======================================================================
Joe and Henrietta
"After the death of Myrtle, I married HENRIETTA (STEVENSON) JACKSON, a widow with two sons. Eventually I sold one farm, rented the other and retired to Cuba. I question retirement being a time of leisure."
On 14 July 1966 Joe deeded to Smithfield eight lots as a playground at the south side of the village in memory of his deceased wife, Myrtle. The land was developed into a ballfield for the young people of the Smithfield area. To show their appreciation for the gift, the citizens of Smithfield named the playground Helle Park and dedicated it 4 October 1985. The dedication was a complete surprise to Joe as all involved kept the secret from him prior to the day of dedication. On that day he was asked to check on "problems" along the Spoon River Scenic Drive route and kept away until just minutes before the dedication ceremony. It was a fitting tribute to a deserving
man.
"I Remember ..."
Gail Helle, brother
Joe was the Rock of Gibralter, the responsible guy, a good second father; always looked after us. One time Gene, as a small boy, climbed the silo. As he reached the top, Joe was coming in with a load of hay. Gene slipped and by the time he hit the ground, Joe had made it across the barnyard and was waiting for him. (Gene stood up at the supper table that night!)
In the dark days of the depression Joe would come on Sunday and have new overalls for us boys and dresses for Charlotte and June. I can merely say, "Thank you, Big Brother."
You always stood tall in the saddle to all your kid brothers.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joseph Helle
CUBA, IL
Joseph A Helle, 94, of 714 E Harrison St. Died at 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2000 at Graham Hospital Extended Care in Canton.
Born Jan 8, 1906, in Smithfield to George and Ida Kaler Helle, Joe married Myrtle Bolon in Cartage, IL. She died March 15, 1965.
Joe later married Henrietta Stevenson Jackson in Smithfield. She survives. Also surviving are two stepsons, John (and Becky) Jackson
of Morton and Edwin (and Kay) Jackson of San Diego; three step-children, one step-great-granddaughter and one brother, Gene of
Arkansas.
Eight brothers and three sisters preceded Joe in death, Joe owned and operated Spoon River Lumber Co. in rural Smithfield for many years and also farmed in the area. Joe was a member of the Fulton Farm Bureau and the Fulton County Cancer Society, he was also a former president of the Historical Genealogical Society, Spoon River Scenic Drive Association Fulton County Health Department and the Western Illinois Hereford Association.
In 1966 Joe donated land to the village of Smithfield, which was named Helle Park.
Joe attended Cuba Church of the Nazarene, where services will be at 10:30 Saturday. The Revs Ralph Hill and Chris Jackson will officiate.
Memorials may be made to Cuba Church of the Nazarene, or Clayberg Fulton County Nursing Home
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joe's nephew Dwight Helle wrote the below:
A small church in Cuba served as the background for Joe Helle's final tribute. In attendance were the surviving brother, 4 of his children, and 9 other nieces and nephews along with their spouses. Equally represented were about 40 members of the community. When you live to 94 you outlive your peers it seems. I counted 80 people in the little church. My detractors will tell you I am a number freak. They would be right (all 17 of them.)
Cousin Dave was the main speaker. He regaled the audience with stories of Joe's wit and generosity. Helle funerals are the only ones I have ever attended that laughter is commonplace. Dave has a dry wit and delivered the punch lines with a boyish grin that charmed the audience and made us all feel that we were celebrating Joe's life, not mourning his death. One of the stepsons followed Dave and truly made us aware of how great a father that he was. I felt like I was witnessing Opie's eulogy of Andy right down to pulling catfish out of the river. Uncle Royal would have been proud to have seen his granddaughter play the piano while her two sons sang the hymn. This
author was moved by the selection of old country melodies that were selected.
The congregation sang amazing Grace. The third line is particularly poignant for funerals. As we exited the church we heard the refrains from days gone by. The biggest plus of all was we did not hear what Joann and I call the Andy song. ("Andy walked with me, Andy talked with me -------).
After the graveside services some of us wandered the cemetery grounds in search of grandparents long lost. It happens that this cemetery contains the remains of great grandfather Fred Helle and also Nellie Helle's parents and grandparents. For this author that is a lot of grandparents. I also found the tombstone of a young man that I went around the world with aboard a Navy ship. (He was lost to lethal combination of alcohol and gasoline, a curve, a motorcycle, etc.)
The gathering back at the church was where the ties came off and the stories came out. By sheer chance I happened to sit next to Uncle Gene and so I got a chance to hear some stories. By the way, he is 82 and does have a mother-in-law. (Note to Maurice: That beats the 70 year-old with his father story). After many stories a lady approached us whom was born a Helle. Her dad would have been Gene and Joe's first cousin. She noted that not only was Gene the last of the 13 children of George and Ida, but also the last of all of his first cousins. (In our generation that is 49, probably closer to 100 in his). I was reluctant to explain that to Uncle Gene, but he seemed ok
with it as he remarked, "Well we know who is next, don't we." And yes, he had a twinkle in his eye.
Dwight
Myrtle (Bolon) Helle and Joe Helle
