Helen B. Schilkofski Obituary (1920 - 2014)

Helen B. "Granny" Schilkofski, 93, died at 5:20 a.m. on Saturday, August 9, 2014 at McLean County Nursing Home, Normal.Private family graveside services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 20, 2014 at Blue Mound Township Cemetery, rural Cooksville, with Monsignor Eric Powell officiating. Military rites will be accorded by the Bloomington-Normal American Legion honor guard. There will be no visitation. Cremation rites have been accorded by Carmody-Flynn Williamsburg Funeral Home, Bloomington. Memorial contributions may be made to the Community Cancer Center, 407 E. Vernon Ave, Normal, IL 61761 or the American Heart Association, 2141 W. White Oaks Dr, Suite A, Springfield, IL 62704. To express condolences online, please visit www.carmodyflynn.com.Helen was born September 24, 1920, daughter of Keith and Mary Beatrice Kelley Stark. She went to one-room country schools and graduated salutatorian from Ellsworth High School. She worked at Beichs Candy and the Wabash Telephone Company. She married Charles A. Schilkofski on December 31, 1943 in Washington, D.C. He preceded her in death on February 4, 2005.Surviving children; twins, C. Michael (Lynda) Schilkofski and Helen Jeanette (Robert) Smittkamp, both of Bloomington and Paul Keith Schilkofski of rural El Paso; three grandchildren, Dr. Charles Allen Smittkamp, Dallas Marie (Brett) Lueschen and Lacy Elise Therien; three great-grandchildren, Alyna Elise Therien, Lydia Marie Lueschen and Caden Michael Lueschen; sisters-in-law, Millie Kummer, LaVern Punke, Valarie Schilkofski and Evelyn Sanford; brother-in-law, William Sanford; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.Helens parents; brother, John K. Stark; sisters-in-law, Lois Stark and Grace Rock; brothers-in-law, Joe Rock, Eugene Schilkofski, Frank Kummer and Robert Punke preceded her in death.Helen and Charles farmed for more than 50 years. She was a United States Navy Veteran. She trained for the military at Hunter College in New York and was stationed at Washington, D.C., where she worked in communications. She was a life-time member of the Lewis E. Davis American Legion Post #56, a former member of the Moose and Ladies Auxiliary of the Knights of Columbus. Helen had collections of beanie babies, stuffed bears, refrigerator magnets, thimbles and 670 sets of salt and pepper shakers. She loved to read, play bingo, bowl, golf and do hand embroidery.She was a member of Epiphany Catholic Church, Normal.Granny will be sadly missed.