Vernon W. Helle

Vernon W. Helle, age 79, of Savanna, Illinois, passed away Wednesday, November 27, 2019 at Big Meadows Nursing Home, Savanna. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, December 2, 2019 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Savanna with cremation rites to follow. Visitation will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., prior to the Mass at Law-Jones Funeral Home, Savanna.

Vernon was born August 13, 1940, the son of Walter and Alice (Williams) Helle in Dubuque, Iowa and was raised on the family farm between Savanna and Hanover. He attended Savanna High School, graduating with the Class of 1958. On October 25, 1958, Vernon married Delores Hazen. Together they raised three daughters and celebrated 61 years of marriage.

Vernon worked as a timber buyer all his life. He also farmed in his younger years, raised cattle, sold wick homes and worked at Helle Wood Products. Vernon loved taking vacations with his family. He also enjoyed spending time outdoors hunting, fishing, and searching for arrowheads, Indian artifacts, geodes, fossils, and old bottles. Most of all, Vernon cherished his family.

Vernon will be dearly missed by his wife, Delores; three daughters, Teresa (Rocky) Mickelson, Kathy Root (Kurt Coatney), Brenda (David) Thulen, all of Savanna; four grandchildren, Robert Mickelson, Matthew Root, Jared Root and Allison Thulen; and one brother, Joe Helle of Savanna.

Vernon is preceded in death by a daughter, Cheryl; his parents, Walter and Alice; a sister, Janice Mills and one brother, Stanley Helle.