Helen Strubbe

Helen Strubbe, 80, of Springfield, {formerly of Ashland} passed away on Saturday, September 7, 2019 at her home with her children around her. She was born on March 24, 1939 in Springfield, the daughter of the late Carl and Freida Mae (Edwards) Orne. She married Kenneth Wayne Strubbe on February 13, 1982 in Arenzville, IL who preceded her in death. Helen was very devoted to God and her Lutheran faith. She served as church organist/pianist, Sunday School teacher, Confirmation teacher, devoted member of the Mary Martha Guild, and choir director at Zion Lutheran Church in Pleasant Plains, IL. Helen also was employed for a culmination of over 25 years with the state of Illinois as an assistant librarian at the Legislative Research Unit, then as a Legislative Aide at the State Senate, for Senators Doris Karpiel and Carole Pankau. She enjoyed the friendship and acquaintances she made with Illinois lobbyists and other state employees. In her spare time, she taught piano lessons to children and adults of all ages for over 50 years. Helen also greatly enjoyed the outdoors – planting in her garden, mowing the lawn, being with her family always, and catching waves at the beach. And you could count on her dachshund, Sugar, to be devotedly by her side. She is survived by her 3 children from her prior marriage to Richard Petefish Sr. Sara (Petefish) (husband James) Holton of Clermont, FL., Richard “R.L.” (wife Holly) Petefish, Jr. of Chatham, IL, and Karen Sue “Susie” (Petefish) Hager of Springfield (partner Tony Ziemba); 2 stepsons, Todd (wife Donna) Strubbe of Great Falls, VA, and Matt (wife Melanie) Strubbe of Riverside, IL; 14 grandchildren: Amber (husband Landry) Harrelson, Shawn Hoff, Jessica Holton, Allison Holton, Joshua Petefish, Sammy Jo Petefish, Joseph (wife Lindsey) Petefish, Alexa “Lexi” (companion Adam Leder) Hager, Alec Hager, Brian (wife Kelsey) Strubbe, Lauren (Strubbe) (husband Nicholas) Gonzalez, Wesley Strubbe, Sarah Strubbe, and Caroline Strubbe; 4 great-grandchildren and one more on the way; and 3 siblings, Ruth Ann Masters, Carolyn Jane (husband John) Jones, and Ed (wife Mary) Orne. In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by a son-in-law Ben Hager, and a brothers-in-law Kenneth Masters, Myron Strubbe, and Keith Strubbe. Services are under the direction of Bisch Funeral Home West, 2931 S. Koke Mill Rd., Springfield, where a memorial visitation will be held on Friday, September 13, 2019 from 11 am until time of the memorial service at 1 pm. The memorial service will be officiated by Pastor Clarence Rogers (St. John Lutheran Church, Chatham, IL) and Pastor Don Pritchard (Zion Lutheran Church, Pleasant Plains, IL). Per her wishes, cremation rites were accorded. A private family interment will take place at Ashland Cemetery, Ashland, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or to Shriner’s Hospital for Children.