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(March 14, 1917 - Jan. 6, 2011)
Helen Wendling, 93, passed away on January 6, 2011, at Powell Valley Care Center, where she resided for the last 2 1/2 years.
Helen was born March 14, 1917, in Moline, Illinois to George and Pearl Doblinsky. In 1924, the family moved to Chicago and she graduated from high school in 1934, Chicago Teacher’s College in 1937 and the University of Illinois in 1938.
While in Chicago she was a teacher, and also an accomplished piano player. There, she met her husband, Melvin, and they were married on December 31, 1943. Her son, Ron, was born in Chicago in July of 1945.
After the war was over, they moved to Powell where they farmed for many years. Her daughter, Sandra, was born in 1947 and completed their family. While on the farm, she learned to run tractors, irrigate and help with the crops. After her children were raised, she returned to teaching for 15 years in the Powell schools at Parkside and Westside.
She was a longtime member of the Presbyterian church and after retirement from teaching she volunteered to deliver Meals on Wheels, played piano for the nursing home church services, and tutored her very close friend, Teresa.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Melvin; and sister, Marge. She is survived by her children, Ron Wendling, of Greybull, and Sandra Fetzer, of Powell; 4 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren.
Cremation has taken place, and at her request, no services are planned.
(Editors note: Helen's obituary ran as a paid obit in the print edition of the Tribune.)
