Helma M. Koslofski Obituary (1924 - 2016)

Helma M. Koslofski, 91, of Maroa, IL passed away on Sunday, April 17, 2016 at St. John's Hospital, Springfield. A service to celebrate Helma's life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, April 22, 2016 at Dawson & Wikoff North Chapel. The family will receive friends for a time of visitation from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Thursday. Helma will be laid to rest next to her husband Leonard in Macon County Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Maroa United Methodist Church, Harristown Grade School Music Department or the Good Samaritan Inn. Helma was born on December 8, 1924 in rural Shelbyville, the daughter of J. Lawrence and Laura Edith (Crook) Foor. She attended Robinson Creek United Methodist Church while growing up and graduated from Tower Hill High School. For two years after graduation she was the assistant to the regional director, St. Louis Ordinance at Shelbyville, stationed at Sta-Rite Ginnie Lou, where arming wires were made for bombs. When WWII ended, she attended Millikin University where she was a lifetime member of Beta Sigma Phi. Following this she was secretary for the department store manager at Gebhart Gusharb. Since she qualified as a civil service employee she next was with the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board for 12 years and then transferred to Social Security Administration from where she retired. She then worked for Byerly Music for 16 years in sales and teaching, where she made many friends. She taught piano in her home for over 30 years. For the past 30 years she has been an organist for Dawson & Wikoff Funeral Homes and has shared being a volunteer organist at Maroa United Methodist Church. Prior to moving to Maroa in 1955, she was the organist for Trinity and Concordia Lutheran Churches for 12 years. Helma's passions included music, cooking and reading. On June 5, 1949 she married Leonard Carl Koslofski. He preceded her in death on September 15, 2000. Helma is survived by her children: Karla (Scott) Sullivan of Decatur, IL and Kevin (Michelle) Koslofski of Decatur, IL; grandchildren: Craig Sullivan, Patrick Sullivan, Gabrielle Koslofski, Kemper Koslofski and Kolby Koslofski; Helma's children and grandchildren were the delight of her life. Brother: Jess (Karen) Foor of Chrisman, IL and Surprise, AZ; sister-in-law: Marge Foor; She leaves many special nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and five siblings: Lenore, Rudy, Delilah, Ervin and Lillian, sisters-in-law: Florence Elwood and Ruth Foor. The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. William Franklin, Dr. Ronald Brownfield, DMH ER, St. John's Hospital Trauma Unit, Trauma Physician Dr. Kari Jerge, Trauma Nurse Tiffany and anyone that cared for Helma after her accident. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at www.dawson-wikoff.com. U.R.A. Blessing