Arline L. Helms, 91, of Marion, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2015, at Pine Manor Healthcare Center, Embarrass.
The former Arline Lillian Kersten was born on Feb. 16, 1924, on the Hauschultz homestead in the town of Dupont, Waupaca County, to Emil and Olga (Hauschultz) Kersten. She attended the Sunrise School for her elementary education. She graduated from Marion High School in just 3½ years and then continued her education by taking college correspondence courses. Shortly after graduation, Arline took a job with FWD Corporation in Clintonville. She worked for two years first as a secretary and then served as a bookkeeper for the following 28 years of her time at the drive. Besides her full-time job, Arline also did all the bookkeeping for her husband’s business, Norman’s Repair Shop, and her parents’ farm.
Arline met her husband, Norman Helms, at a dance at the Caroline Ballroom when he came home from serving overseas during World War II. They were married on May 18, 1946, and the couple lived on the home farm where Norman also ran his repair shop. He fixed cars, trucks, tractors and about anything else that clients brought in. Norman died of a heart attack on March 4, 1985.
Arline was a lifelong member of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Congregation in Marion. She was baptized on April 1, 1924, and confirmed on April 10, 1938. She was a member of the Ladies Aide (ELCW) and was involved with the Altar Guild, flower committee, worked at the fall suppers, and helped with many other projects over the years.
No matter what type of club or group that she joined, Arline always took an active role. She had been a member of the American Legion Auxiliary for 63 years, holding various offices at both the local and county level, including president, secretary and, most recently, historian. She also was instrumental in organizing the Marion CB Club, where she held the offices of president and secretary/treasurer.
In 1993, she decided to downsize, sold the farm and moved into an apartment in Marion. She became very active at the Marion Senior Center, involving herself by serving meals, organizing their card parties, planning the menus and calling bingo. In 2006, she settled at Pine Manor Healthcare Center. She remained active by taking part in all the available activities, folding towels, attending church services and Bible study, playing bingo and other games, baking and listening to the musical entertainers that came to the nursing home. Her latest accomplishment was being named resident council president at Pine Manor.
Survivors include three sisters-in-law, Wynella (Eugene) Barnick, Joyce Helms and Florence Helms, all of Marion. There is one brother-in-law, Allen Johnson, of Tigerton; many nieces, nephews and cousins. Arline has a good friend who is like a daughter to her, Brenda (Bruce) Westfahl, of Clintonville. Arline is further survived by some card-playing buddies, Joe and Sandy Mass, and special friends Mary Jolin and Ed and Sue Wudstrack.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Norman; three sisters-in-law, Elvera Much, Betty Johnson and Joyce Streicher; and five brothers-in-law, Harold Helms, Lloyd Helms, Martin Much, Lowell Haufe and Ed Streicher.
The funeral service will be held on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 11 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church, Marion. The Rev. Bradley Dokken will officiate, and burial will follow at Roseland Cemetery, Marion. Friends may call on Saturday from 9 a.m. until time of service at the church.
The Beil-Didier Funeral Home, Marion, is assisting the family.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. John’s Lutheran Church Roof Fund or to the activity department at Pine Manor, care of Mary Jolin.
The family wishes to thank all the nurses and staff at Pine Manor for years of tender loving care always given to Arline.
