Obit: Preston, Helen Margaret #2 (1914 - 2011)

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Preston, Schiller, Poehnlein, Krauth, Cardin, Resong, Joseph

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) July 13, 2011

Preston, Helen Margaret (19 August 1914 - 5 July 2011)

Helen Preston, 96, of Neillsville, and formerly of Oshkosh, died Tuesday, July 5, 2011, at the Neillsville Retirement Community  in Neillsville.

Helen Margaret Preston was born Aug. 19, 1914, in Gravel Bourg, Saskatchewan, Canada, the daughter of James and Frances (Schiller) Preston.  They moved to Neillsville when Helen was young.  She attended Normal School in Neillsville and then completed her education at Stevens Point College, where she earned her teacher’s certificate.  Helen taught in the Neillsville area schools and overseas for a few years.  Most of her teaching career, however, was spent in Oshkosh, where she taught first and second grade until her retirement in 1979 at the age of 65.  In retirement, she taught English to the Vietnamese, and she enjoyed playing the piano, dancing, quilting, and gardening. She moved to Neillsville, in 2006.

Helen was very charitable and devoted to her extended family. She enjoyed donating her time and finances to many organizations including the Boys and Girls Club of Oshkosh and the international Crane Foundation near Baraboo. She was a worldwide traveler.

She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Neillsville.

She is survived by three nephews, David (Carol) Poehnlein of Willard, Bruce Poehnlein of Neillsville and Steve Krauth of Madison. She is also survived by a niece, Kathleen (Ron) Cardin of Palo Alto, CA.

Preceding her in death were her parents and three sisters, Jean Preston, Gail Poehnlein and Katherine Krauth.

The Mass of Christian Burial for Helen will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 14, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Neillsville.  The Celebrant will be Rev. Varkey V. Joseph.  Music will be provided by Ronald Resong, organist, and St. Mary’s Choir.  Interment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

Online condolences may be made at www.geschefh.com.

The Gesche Funeral Home is assisting Helen’s family with funeral arrangements.