Helen Alyea

Helen E. Alyea, age 100, died Sunday November 28, 2010 at Brighton Gardens in Wheaton, Illinois.  She was born April 23, 1910 to Nels and Betty (nee: Anderson) Johnson in New York City.  She grew up in North Dakota and after earning her degree in education from Jamestown College in 1931she taught in North Dakota for six years.  In December of 1937 she married Harold W. Alyea in San Benito, Texas.  While in Texas she was a teacher and then she was with her husband through his job transfers to Cincinnati, Ohio and then to Milwaukee.  When she came to Wisconsin she continued as an educator and was a substitute teacher at the Waukesha Public Schools where she was very dedicated to students with special needs. She owned “The Fabric Shop” in Genesee Depot and was a former member of St. John Lutheran Church in North Prairie.  She will be missed by her children: Fredric (Charlotte) Alyea of Dunwoody, Georgia, John “Jack” (Laurel) Alyea of San Carlos, California, James (Jean) Alyea of Wheaton, Illinois, Marian (Chuck) Schmoller of Marshfield, Wisconsin, and Robert (Jaclyn) Alyea of Germantown, Wisconsin, Grandchildren: Stefanie Alyea of Wheaton, Illinois,  Rebecca (Jim) Gill of Seattle, Washington, Scott Schmoller of Milwaukee, Brianne Schmoller of Sun Prairie, Brian (Lisa) Alyea of Cumming, Georgia, and Kristin (Dr. John) Epstein of Princeton Junction, New Jersey.  She is further survived by her 5 great-grandchildren: James, Fredric, Lauren, Isabella, and Madeline, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.  She was preceded in death by her loving husband Harold Alyea in 1972, her daughter Betty Alyea in 2006, her brother Walter Johnson, her sister Esther Johnson, and her lifelong friend Jeanette Olson.  Visitation will be held at Randle-Dable Funeral Home 1110 S. Grand Avenue Waukesha, Wisconsin Wednesday December 8, 2010 from 9:00 AM until the 10:00 AM funeral service.  Graveside services will follow at Prairie Home Cemetery.  Memorials may be made to Bethesda Lutheran Communities c/o Development Department 600 Hoffmann Drive Watertown, Wisconsin 53094. For further information or directions please call Randle-Dable Funeral, Cremation, and Preplanning Services at 262-547-4035.  To leave the family an online tribute message visit www.waukeshafunerals.com