Helen M. Kueper

Helen M. Kueper of Carlyle, IL died Sunday, February 20, 2011 at the Caring First Nursing Home in Breese, IL at the age of 87 years. A life-long resident of born in Carlyle, she was born on February 12, 1924, the daughter of William and Mary (Hilmes) Kueper.Helen is survived by her dear friend and partner Walter 'Sonny' Sprehe of Carlyle; nieces: Suzanne Schmitz and Jean Schmitz Totten; nephew: Lawrence 'Larry' Schmitz and wife Barb; great nieces and nephews: Holly Schmitz Coombs, Jake Schmitz, Josh (Erin) Berry, Jason (Ashley) Berry, Tina (Emory) Berry and Tricia Totten; great great nieces: Logan, Madeline and Emily Coombs, Isabella Berry and great great nephews: Zeke Coombs and Xander Berry.Helen was preceded in death by her sisters: Henrietta Weingaertner, Annette Dwyer, Pauline Tappin, Rosemary Schmitz Hodapp and Catherine McGrane.Helen, along with her sister Henrietta Weingartner opened the Will-Mary Shoppe in Carlyle on February 11, 1950. Later they were joined in the store with Walter 'Sonny' Sprehe. They operated the store until 2006 meeting the clothing needs of the Carlyle area residents. Helen was active as a business person in civic affairs and in 1967 was honored with the 'Woman of Achievement' award by the First National Bank in Carlyle. She was a member of St. Mary Church in Carlyle.A Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday, February 23, 2011 11:00 A.M. at St. Mary Church in Carlyle. The interment will follow at St. Mary Cemetery.Friends may visit with the family at the Frerker Funeral Home in Carlyle on Tuesday from 5 to 8:00 P.M. or on Wednesday from 8 to 10:30 A.M.The family memorials to St. Mary’s Church in Carlyle and those will be received at the Frerker Funeral Home which is serving the family.