Helen Wiegel

Our beloved mother, Helen Mae Wiegel, passed away peacefully on September 11, 2011, in Wilsonville , OR at the age of 100. Mom was a loving and giving lady who enjoyed life, was devoted to her home and family, loved music, loved her church and garden, and was proud of her heritage. She was all her life a very active member of the Methodist Church, now the United First Church of Amboy. Born in 1911 in Franklin Grove, Illinois, she is the daughter of Fred J. and Daisy Ives Blocher. She graduated from Franklin Grove High School where she was known to be an accomplished pianist. She attended Cornell College in Mt. Vernon Iowa . Helen married her high school sweet heart, David O. Wiegel, on Feb.29, 1936. They loved to travel, and visited interesting places throughout the U.S. and Canada throughout their lives. She remembered staying in a rustic cabin in Yellowstone in the 1930's and opening the door one morning to a bear! Her great-great grandfather William E. Ives settled in Amboy in the early 1860's and was the town mayor, clerk and a well known attorney. He was a friend of Abraham Lincoln who spoke once from the balcony of Ive's office in downtown Amboy on his way to a debate with Douglas in Freeport. Mr. Ives and his son Charles (15 at the time) accompanied Lincoln on the train to Freeport. Charles was Helen's grandfather and also practiced law in Amboy in the late 1800"s. Helen's father, F.J. Blocher was the proprietor of a clothing store in Franklin Grove and was known as "Blocher the Clothier". She is survived by three children, Roger (Betty) Wiegel of Rio Rancho, New Mexico ; Dorothy (Lou) Kristopson of Stow, Ohio; and Jeffrey (Christy) Wiegel of Wilsonville, OR; six grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild and a nephew, Bob McGaffey of Lyndenhurst and Dixon , IL . She was preceded in death by her loving husband in 1992, her sister Eva McGaffey of Dixon in 1980 and a dearly missed great grandson. Her family wishes to convey its Heartfelt thanks to caregivers at The Wilsonville in Wilsonville, Oregon where she lived comfortably in assisted care for the past 2-1/2 years. She was loved and honored there like family and enjoyed a happy, safe and comfortable home under their attentive care. Services will be held on Thursday, September 15, 2011 at 2:00 PM in the United First Church in Amboy with the Rev. Charles Jeanblanc, Pastor, officiating. Burial will follow in Prairie Repose Cemetery in Amboy. Visitation will be held on Thursday, from 12:00 PM until time of service in the church. Flowers appreciated. A memorial has been established to the United First Church in Amboy.

Helen Wiegel

July 26, 1911 - September 11, 2011