Marilyn Helgesen

Marilyn A. Helgesen, 77, a resident of Churubusco, passed away at 9:35 a. m.on Thursday, January 15, 2015, at Wesley Healthcare in Auburn following a four year battle with Bulbar ALS. Mrs. Helgesen was born on December 28, 1937 in Smith Township, a daughter of Luey J. and Florence (Ott) Wade. She was a lifelong resident of Churubusco and graduated from Churubusco High School in 1955. Employed at Dana Corporation in Churubusco for 27 years, she retired from there in 1999. She was a member of the Churubusco United Methodist Church and was active in its food ministry. In her leisure time she enjoyed fishing, hunting, riding motorcycles, most especially loved and cherished her family, and was a friend to many. The surviving relatives include her eight children Vicky (Rusty) McPike of Dallas, Tx., Donna Helgesen of Greensboro, NC., Andrew (Joan) Helgesen of Churubusco, Arnold Helgesen of Fort Wayne, Gregory (Laurie) Helgesen of Albion, Susan Teller of LaGrange, Stephanie (Samuel) Schnurr of Churubusco, and Cheryl (Rich) Snavley of Camden; a sister Nancy (Norm) Stump of Columbia City; 21 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by two sisters Betty LaRue and Hilda Wade; two brothers Everett Rhodes and Gary Wade; and a son-in-law Edwin Teller. Funeral services will be held at 11 a. m. on Tuesday, January 20, 2015, at the Churubusco United Methodist Church with Pastor Corinne Boruff-Stucker, officiating. The family will receive friends at Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco on Monday from 2 to 8 p. m., or at the church one hour prior to the service Tuesday morning. Interment will be in the Riverview Cemetery, south of Churubusco. The family requests that memorials be directed to ALS Association of Greater Chicago, 220 W. Huron St., #4003, Chicago, IL 60637; or University of Chicago Dept. of Neurology, 5841 S. Maryland Ave./MC 2030, Chicago, IL 60637 ************************************************