Helen E. Dewall

Helen Esther DeWall, 98, of Forreston, died Wednesday, September 28, 2016 at Serenity Home and Hospice in Oregon, IL Helen was born on September 20, 1918 in Ontario, CA to Ralph and Edith (Buterbaugh) Thomas. Moved to Illinois on World war 1 troop train in December 1918. She grew up on her grandfather's farm north of Mount Morris and attended country school for eight years and graduated from Mount Morris H.S. in 1936. She went onto graduate from Heinz Beauty School in Chicago and then came to Forreston where she worked in Hulda Trei's Beauty Shop. Helen and Henry DeWall were married following his discharge from military service, on May 1, 1946 at the Church of the Brethren parsonage in Mt. Morris by Rev. Foster Statler. Helen was a member of Forreston Reformed Church and the Reformed Church Women's Ministries. She also taught Sunday school for many years. Helen is survived by her children, Dorinda (Michael) Breakwell of Dublin, OH and Dr. Bradley (Kimberlee) DeWall of LeClaire, IA, grandchildren; Megan (Brandon) Smith, Brittany Breakwell, Katherine DeWall, Kristina (Jeffrey) Romans, Anna DeWall, and Zachary (Jennifer) DeWall; great-grandchildren; Sophia, Gabriel, and Rafe Romans, John Henry and Laurel Hattie DeWall, and Harrison Smith; and many nieces, nephews, and special friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and two brothers, Grover and Robert Thomas, and three sisters, Mary Barnhart, Florence Dietrich, and Ferne Gibbs. Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M. Thursday October 6, 2016 at Forreston Reformed Church. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5:00-700 P.M. at Burke-Tubbs Funeral Home in Forreston. Burial will be in White Oak Cemetery, Forreston. A memorial has been established in her name. Please visit www.burketubbs.com to sign her online guestbook and to share memories.