Obit: Filipek, Helen B. (1925 - 2009)

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 
 

Surnames: Filipek, Depa 
 

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., WI.) September 2, 2009 
 

Filipek, Helen B. (11 July 1925 - 19 August 2009)  
 

Helen Filipek of Niles, IL, formerly of Thorp, passed away on August 19 after a long illness. 
 

Helen B. Filipek (nee Depa), age 84, beloved wife of Walter, loving mother of Daniel (Jeanne), and James P., dear grandmother of Scott (Kristin), Joseph (Cheryl) Michael and Douglas, great-grandmother of Emily, cherished sister of Marcella, Julie, Louis, Anton, Peter, John, Pauline, Joe and the late Andrew, Frances, and Agnes, fond sister-in-law, aunt and great-aunt of many.  She was a member of the American Legion Ladies’ Auxiliary Post #118 in Thorp, WI. 
 

Helen was born on July 11, 1925 to Paul and Anna Depa of Thorp, Wisconsin. She was the fourth of twelve children.  She grew up in Thorp, graduated from Thorp High School, attended college, and became a school teacher around the start of World War II.  She eventually became the school principal. 
 

A the end of the war, she began dating Walter, a returning WWII veteran who had spent his last 4 years chasing the Nazis around in Africa, Sicily, Italy, France, and Austria.  Walter had returned to Thorp and was looking to have fun times.  Helen and Wally had a whirlwind courtship and visited many of the local dance halls and bars in the Thorp area.  Mile-A-Way, Kit-Kat, Pinks, and Louie Novoks, to name a few.  The courtship was so fast passed (paced) that one night when Wally was driving Helen home on a moonlit evening in the country, Wally kind of missed the turn in the country road and ended up in a cranberry swamp!  It took 2 tractors and a crane to lift the car out of the cranberry bog. 
 

After a brief courtship, Helen accepted Wally’s marriage proposal (at Louie Novoks) but wanted to get approval from her father, Paul.  When Wally showed up to ask for Helen’s hand in marriage, the future father-in-law had a few questions for his future son-in-law.  Paul asked "Wally, Do you have a job?"   Wally replied, "No."  Paul continued, "Do you have a place to live?" Again, Wally replied, "No."  Paul asked, "Do you have any money saved up?"  Wally again answered, "No."  Paul shrugged his shoulders and asked the final question, "Well what do you bring to this marriage?"  Wally replied, "Well, I got this here car."  (Remember, Paul is now looking at a car with a cranberry colored interior - in 1946.)  However, Paul had wisdom in matters like these and realized that if Wally had walked all across Europe fighting the Nazis, survived 4 beachhead landing attacks, spent 6 winter months in a fox hole at Anzio, and of course, the cranberry swamp, marriage might be a welcome change of pace.  Paul gave his blessing for the marriage and it lasted 63 years. 
 

Helen and Wally moved to Chicago to begin their life together.  Wally began working at General Electric and Helen at Western Electric. 
 

In 1947 Helen had her first child, Danny, and things would begin to change.  Not quite sure if for better or worse; it would be 11 years before Helen would have another child; that has got to tell you something! 
 

During this time Helen worked and maintained the house and began raising her family.  Helen and Wally invited Helen’s brothers and sisters to join them in Chicago and get their start in the ‘big city.’  They arrived, one by one, and soon the house was full.  It was a happy and fun time in Helen’s life. 
 

In 1964 Helen and Wally and the family moved to Niles.  Helen did such a great job of being a mother, maintaining a wonderful home, and keeping her sanity in a home with 2 growing boys that no one wanted to leave.  In fact, Danny lived with ‘Mom and Dad’, until he was 29!  Thank God he found his wonderful wife, Jeanne, or he might STILL be living at home!  Jim, on the other hand, not to be outdone by his older brother, lived with Mom and Dad until he was 30, beating Dan’s record by one year.  Unfortunately, Jim is still searching for his ‘perfect woman’.  Good luck, Jim. 
 

Dan and Jeanne rewarded Helen’s effort with 4 wonderful grandchildren, who were Helen’s pride and joy - Scott, Joe, Mike, and Doug. 
 

All four grandchildren are currently members of the Illinois Air National Guard.  Scott and Joe are currently in law enforcement with the Mount Prospect police department.  (Those of you traveling west watch your speed and stay buckled up).  Mike is a High School teacher, teaching Chemistry and Physics - and will soon be embarking on a 2^nd career.  Mike has been accepted, and awaiting his training dates - and his commission, as a pilot in the United States Air Force.  Doug is a second year college student at the University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC).  As you can see, Grandma Helen had a lot to be proud of.  (Grandma Helen, however, was convinced that Joe should have been a girl and always said, "God Screwed up.") 
 

Holidays at the Filipek’s were always happy and joyous.  However, with 4 grandsons, Jim, Dan, and Grandpa, the topics around the dinner table were very male dominated - football, baseball, hockey, hunting and fishing. 
 

This changed for the better when Joe married Cheryl, and now, Grandma Helen had Jeanne and Cheryl to talk to and leave the guys alone to do whatever it is that they do!  Scott soon followed Joe’s lead and married Kristin and the tables were turning. 
 

After 3 generations of male domination in the Filipek family, the mold was finally broken as Kristin gave birth to Emily.  Emily’s smile and happy personality gave Grandma Helen much happiness during her last days.  Grandma Helen would light up when she heard that Emily was coming over!  Emily is 10 months old and was a true gift from God  to Grandma Helen!