Helen Zerkel

Helen Zerkel, 97, of Kankakee, IL. passed away on Friday, January 20, 2012 at Provena Heritage Village in Kankakee. Helen was born on July 14, 1914 in Champaign, IL. to George Childs and Pearl Dyson. She married William Zerkel on October 4, 1940. She attended University of Illinois where she completed her Bachelors degree in Arts and Liberal Sciences in June of 1961. Mrs. Zerkel was a school teacher at McConville and Smith country schools. She was a teacher for Earlville District 9 when she retired in 1976. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting, crossword puzzles, traveling, collecting coins, reading and helping others in her spare time.

Helen is survived by one sister-in-law; Priscilla Childs of Plymouth, IN., five nieces and three nephews; Marilyn Wolf of Batavia, IL., Neva Jo (Tom) Sheahan of Kingman, AZ., Barb (Edward) Erickson of Houston, TX., Sandra Mead of Panama City, FL., Debbie (Ron) Gabel of Sun City, CA., Bill (Patricia) Childs of Kankakee, IL., John (Sue) Childs of Plymouth, IN., and Ronald (Carol) Childs of Warner Robbins, GA., several great and great-great nieces and nephews, several step nieces and nephews, and special friends Beverly and Daniel Arseneau and many friends at the Maxine Lewis Rest Home.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, brothers; Jim and George Childs, and one sister Margaret Childs Hayward.

A gathering time for family and friends will be Thursday, January 26, 2012 from 10 a.m. until the time of service at 11a.m. at the Kankakee Chapel of the Schreffler Life Story Funeral Homes. Interment will take place at Precinct Cemetery at 1 p.m. in Earlville, Il.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the American Heart Association.