Helen A. Goerne

  Helen A. (Riss) Goerne died Saturday, January 8, 2022 at Countryside Haven in rural Streator.

  There will be no visitation and services will be private with burial at Riverview Cemetery.  The Solon-Telford Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

  Helen was born July 8, 1926, in Streator. She was the daughter of Clarence and Lura (Weiben) Riss. She married David W. Goerne on February 22, 1948. He preceded her in death on September 12, 2010. She was also preceded in death by her parents and brother, Floyd Riss.

  Helen grew up on the family farm east of Kernan and attended grade school at the rural Palestine one-room schoolhouse. She graduated from Streator High School in 1944. After High School, she worked on Main Street for Dr. Herbert Sowers and later for Spiegel’s Catalog. She met Dave at the Streator Lanes bowling alley on West Main Street that would later become the home of Streator NAPA that they founded in 1950. Helen’s kids remember her touring the countryside and venturing into the ditches in search of the perfect cattails and milkweed pods for her creative craft projects. After raising her family, she returned to Main Street working with her sons, Larry and Don, at Streator Lawn and Garden. During her retirement years she relished spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, watching them after school and attending their many sports games and school plays. They will remember her for her fresh blueberry muffins and famous Christmas punch, for organizing the family Easter egg hunt, and for entertaining them with games on car rides. 

  She was a member of Park Presbyterian Church for over 70 years and was very active in the Presbyterian Hope Circle, King’s Daughters, Mothers of Twins Club, Athene Study Club, and P.E.O. Chapter C.M. She also served on the Salvation Army Advisory Board.

  She is survived by her four children, seven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. They are son Larry (Peggy) Goerne of Streator; daughter Barbara Wierbicki of New Lenox; son Donald (Elaine) Goerne of Streator; son Dale Goerne of Streator; grandchildren Scott (Jessica Brennan) Goerne, Jill Goerne, and Amy (Marc) Lamango, all of Streator; Bradley Goerne of Montreal, Canada; Elizabeth Wierbicki of New Lenox; Brittany (Jeff) Wilkie of Lockport; Shelby Goerne of Singapore; great-grandchildren Brody Lamango, Hollie Lamango, and Kasey Lamanago, all of Streator; and Blakely Wilkie and Ryker Wilkie, both of Lockport. She is also survived by one sister-in-law, Joyce Riss of Ransom, and many nieces and nephews.  

  In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Park Presbyterian Church Deacons (Streator, IL), P.E.O. Chapter C.M. Education Fund, Salvation Army, or the donor’s choice.

  You may leave a condolence for the family at www.solontelford.com

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