Helen Alice Lennberg Kirk

Helen Alice Lennberg Kirk, age 88, of Elizabeth, Illinois, died on Wednesday, May 28, 2008, at Elizabeth Nursing Home, Elizabeth, Illinois. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 31, 2008 at the Law-Jones Funeral Home, Elizabeth with Pastor Dottie Morizzo of Schapville Zion Presbyterian Church, Schapville, Illinois officiating. Burial will be in the Zion Presbyterian Cemetery, Schapville. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. prior to the service at the funeral home. A memorial fund has been established in Helen’s name.
Helen was born on June 8, 1919 to Frank Aaron and Josephine (Casper) Lennberg in Erie, Pennsylvania. Helen graduated from Academy High School in 1936. She married William Andrew Slagter in 1937 and they had one daughter, Lore Louise Slagter. Helen married Frederick Zimmer in 1940 and they had two sons, Alan Phillip and Frederick Louis. Helen moved from Erie in 1956 and settled in Maryland where she went to work for the Naval Research Lab as a Secretary. In 1958 Helen married George R. Kirk in Oxon Hill, Maryland. When Helen’s husband George retired from the Lab, where he also worked, they moved to Stockton, Illinois. They bought a house there that had once been Stockton Center School. Helen continued working as a Secretary for Attorney Harold Nagel. She always called this her dream job. Helen thoroughly enjoyed working as a Legal Secretary, but most particularly liked working for Mr. Nagel. She said they worked as a ‘team’ from day one.
In 1969 Helen’s husband suffered a totally debilitating stroke, at that time she left her job to stay at home and care for him. After his death she ultimately moved to Cocoa, Florida and lived near her son Fritz (Frederick) until her return to Illinois a few years ago to live with her daughter, Lore Radke.
Helen was an avid reader and enjoyed embroidering. She had many friends over the years and kept them all no matter the distance or years. Her friendships ended only with the passing of her friends. She followed politics and would converse long and knowledgeably about current events and historical events in the political arena. Helen had a great sense of humor and was quick with a quip.
Born and raised a Lutheran, she was strong in her faith and had been a charter member in a small Evangelical Church in Melbourne, Florida.
Her children were always the most important element in her life, followed by her grandchildren. She was particularly proud of her father who had come to the United States from Sweden at the age of 15 and on his own had learned to speak English without an accent and risen from a lineman when electricity was first being installed in northern Pennsylvania to an engineer watching over all the lines he had helped install.
Helen is survived by her daughter , Lore (David) Radke of Elizabeth, Illinois, a son; Fritz Zimmer, grandchildren; Lisa (Mike) Pizana of King George, Virginia, Eric (Teresa) Radke of Mayville, Wisconsin, Rolf (Kim) Radke of Elizabeth, Illinois, Aimee (Grant) Underwood of Jewell, Iowa, Lanie Craig of San Diego, California, and Alan (Donna) McHugh of Waldorf, Virginia; and great-grandchildren; Keith (Angie) Radke of Elizabeth City, North Carolina, Adrienne (Jon) Leedahl of Olivia, Minnesota, Victoria Pizana of Fargo, North Dakota, Rebakah Pizana of Leesburg, Virginia, Rachael, Mathew, Laura, Emily, and Michael Pizana at home in King George, Virginia, Kyle Radke at home in Mayville, Wisconsin, Rolf and Mattie Radke and Michelle Payne at home in Elizabeth, Illinois, Garrett and Gillian Underwood at home in Jewell, Iowa and Madeline Craig at home in San Diego; and six great-great-grandchildren.
Helen was preceded in death by her son Alan, her parents, her husband George Kirk, and her brother Frank Aaron Lennberg, Jr.