Helen Mathilda Miller, 99, a resident of Galesburg since 1991, died in her home on October 9, 2018.
Helen was born in Newberry, Michigan, on September 6, 1919, the second oldest daughter of John Werner Kero and Sandra Kero (Lathi). She is survived by her brother, Clifford Kero of Klamath Falls, Oregon, and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her older sister, Eleanor Stamm; her younger sister, Inez Dean; and her younger brother, Charles Kero.
During the Depression, Helen helped to support her family through secretarial work at the Chicago Board of Trade. During World War II, she volunteered as a Red Cross nurse’s aide. After the war, while continuing to pursue her secretarial career in the Chicago Loop, she built, owned, and operated Landing Bay Resort on Big Bearskin Lake in Harshaw, Wisconsin. In the 1980s, she retired from her 40-year secretarial/office manager career in downtown Chicago to care for her ailing father and mother in Wooddale, Illinois. In 1991, she moved to Galesburg to be near her widowed sister, Eleanor Stamm. While her sister was in hospice care during the last three years of her life, Helen cared for Eleanor in her home.
As a Galesburg resident, until the death of her sister, Helen was actively involved with the First Church of God. In 2012, with her sister, she was awarded The Oak Award by the Christian Women’s Association for her service. An avid crocheter, even when she no longer went out, Helen continued to make scarfs, hats, shawls, and bags for church fund-raisers, gifts, or people in need. In addition, Helen passionately loved animals and for the last 30 years has often become a "loving parent" for a dog and cat that needed a home. In fact, she is survived by her rescued cat, Allie.
On Saturday, October 13, 2018, visitation will be from 9 to 10 a.m. at the First Church of God, 1080 Harrison Street, Galesburg. Funeral service will follow at 10 a.m. conducted by Pastor Dennis McQuown. Interment at East Linwood Cemetery will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Church of God in Galesburg or the Guardian Angels Humane Society of Galesburg.
Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Directors and Cremation Services Galesburg Chapel is handling arrangements for the family. Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.
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