Helen M Wahls

Born December 12, 1935 in Chicago to Dr. William E. and Helen W. (Cain) Beckmann, she married Donald A. Wahls on June 24, 1961 in Park Ridge.

Surviving are her husband; two brothers-in-law, Robert (Doris) Wahls of McHenry and Harvey Wahls of Raleigh, North Carolina; two nieces, Rhonda (Don) Jones of Johnsburg and Dr. Nancy Wahls of Hanover, Maryland; and three nephews, Michael (Denise) Wahls of Spring Grove, Robert (Barbara) Wahls of Pinckney, Michigan, and Dr. Richard (Debbie) Wahls of Williamsburg, Virginia.

Her parents preceded her in death.

A 1957 graduate of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, Helen was employed as a speech therapist at Chicago area schools for several years. She later devoted her time to volunteering.

She was a member of Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Pekin and the Council of Catholic Women. She also was a member of the Purdue Alumni Association, Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, Chapter OE of the P.E.O. Sisterhood in Pekin, past President of the Dirksen Center Guild; and past President of the United Way of Pekin. Helen was a longtime member and past President of the Pekin Hospital League, where she was instrumental in the beginning of the Nearly Nu Shop in Pekin, and was a volunteer at both the Pekin Hospital Gift Shop and the Nearly Nu Shop.

An avid golfer, Helen had 5 holes-in-one. She was a member of the Sunset Hills Golf Club in Pekin and golfed in the Sunset Hills Ladies Best Ball for many years, serving as Chairwoman for 10 years. Helen enjoyed traveling and wintered in Anna Marie Island, Florida, where loved to watch the sunsets. She attended Saint Bernard’s Catholic Church in Holmes Beach, Florida while in Florida. She also enjoyed playing bridge and mahjong and following sports, especially the Chicago Bears.

Her funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, January 14, 2016 at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Pekin with Father Michael Andrejek as the celebrant. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. Thursday at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. Burial will be at Saint Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Pekin.

Memorial contributions may be made to Saint Joseph Catholic Church, 303 South 7th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or to the Illinois CancerCare Foundation, 8940 North Wood Sage Road, Peoria, IL 61615.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com