VAN  HORNE:  Helen M. Kerkman, 91, of Plainfield, Il, formerly of Van Horne, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, August 14, 2008 at the Batavia Rehab in Batavia, IL following an extended illness.
     Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 AM, Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at Phillips Funeral Home Chapel in Keystone with Pastor Norman Bennett of Salem United Methodist Church in Van Horne officiating.  Interment will be held at the Salem Cemetery in Van Horne.  Friends may call at the funeral home from 4 to 7 PM, Monday. A memorial fund has been established.
     Helen was born January 9, 1917 in Cedar Rapids to John and Anna Nelson and graduated from the Van Horne High School.  On February 12, 1936 she married Donald F. Kerkman of Van Horne.
     For many years, Helen was Office Manger at Joyce Lumber Co. in Van Horne.  She lived across the street from neighbor and friend, Mabelle Strellner, for approximately sixty years and was a member of Salem United Methodist Church of Van Horne.
     Helen dearly loved her family and was always ready to lend a helping hand to others.  She was talented, quilting and crocheting many beautiful things for her family.  Helen thoroughly enjoyed watching her son, Gordon, play baseball and basketball in High School and College.  She kept up with his career as a High School Basketball Coach in De Witt, and at Aurora West High School in Illinois.
     She is survived by her son, Gordon (Marilyn) of Aurora, IL; grandson, Randy (Beki) Kerkman of Denver, CO; granddaughters, Julee (Mark) Schwarzburg of Sisters, OR, and Amy (Allen) Persons of Plainfield, IL; five great-grandchildren, Ashley and Alex Persons of Plainfield, IL, and Heather, Caitlin and Alyssa Schwarzburg of Sisters, OR.
     Helen was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Donald; her daughter, Connie Kerkman; and her brother, Julius Nelson.