Obit: Sherren, Viola Lorene #2 (1914 - 2007)
Contact:  Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Sherren, Helton, Limberg, Clausen, Raum, Clikeman

----Sources: Clark County Press (Neillsville, WI.) January 24, 2007

Sherren, Viola Lorene (December 15, 1914 - January 18, 2007)

Viola Sherren, age 92, of Christie, died on Thursday, January 18, 2007 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield.

Viola Lorene Helton was born on December 15, 1914, in Long Point Township, Livingston County, IL the daughter of George and Annie (Limberg) Helton. She attended Flanagan Public Schools in Illinois and graduated from Normal Community, High School in Normal, IL in 1933. She graduated from Illinois State University in 1937 and from the University of Wyoming with a Master of Arts Degree in 1952. She taught in Illinois for 15 years. During that time she was united in marriage to Kenneth Sherren on December 21, 1955 in Moline, IL. They moved to Greenwood, WI in 1958 and Viola taught at the Neillsville High School for 21 years before retiring in 1979.

She was a member of the Christie United Methodist Church and their women’s group; the Carmi Chapter #60 Order of the Eastern Star of Neillsville; Sigma Tau Delta, a National Honorary English Fraternity; Pi Gamma Mu, a National Honorary Social Studies Fraternity,; The American Bell Association; the Clark County Historical Society; the State Historical Society of WI; and the American Legion Auxiliary as a Gold Star Member. She served as district officer of the United Methodist Women for four years, she was a representative of the West Central Region of the Wisconsin Council of Local History, she was a secretary for eight years and served as president for two years for the Clark County Historical Society, she was initiated into OES in 1964 and she served as President of the Neillsville Education Association.

Her honors included the Coe Fellowship Award for the study of Thomas Jefferson from the University of Wyoming and Advisor of the Year 1970 from the Chippewa Valley Press Association for which she was a member of the board of Directors and their treasurer for eight years. She received the teacher of the year award in 1975.

She is survived by her husband, Kenneth; three nieces, Andrea (Myron) Clausen and Mary (Charles) Raum, both of Rockford, IL, and Linda (David) Clikeman, of Elkhorn, WI.

She was preceded in death by her parents and four brothers; Ivan, George, Melvin and Wilbur, along with a sister-in-law, Ebba Helton, spouse of Wilbur.

Funeral services were held Monday, January 22, 2007 at the Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville, Wis. Pastor Douglas Bjerke officiated. Providing music were Eileen Zank, organist, and David Clikeman, Linda Clikeman, Andrea Clausen and Mary Raum, vocalists. Interment was in the Neillsville City Cemetery. An American Legion Auxiliary Service was held at 6:30 p.m., Sunday and an Order of the Eastern Star Service followed at 6:45 p.m.

Casket bearers were David Clikeman, Dennis Sischo, Herman Seebandt, Kenneth VanDam, Jack Kluckholm and Benny Heck.

The Gesche Funeral Home of Neillsville assisted Viola’s family with arrangements.