Helen E. Dean

Helen E. Dean of 707 N. Richardson Ave, Ashton, IL, passed away Monday, September 28 at the Franklin Grove Nursing Center, where she had been a resident for the past 6 months. Helen Elizabeth Zeller Dean was born January 5, 1920, the daughter of Samuel T. and Myrtle (Knapp) Zeller of Genoa IL. She graduated from Genoa High School in 1936 and attended Northwestern University in Evanston IL as a nursing major for 2 years. She married Robert R. (Bob) Dean in Genoa on June 17, 1939. Together, they published The Ashton Gazette until retirement in 1979. They were married for 66 years until Bob passed away Dec. 20, 2005. Helen was an active member of the Ashton United Methodist Church, where she was a member of the chancel choir and handbell choir, and was a former member of the Ashton Women's Club, the Order of the Eastern Star and the Scottish Rite Women's Club. She enjoyed sewing, music and playing cards. She is survived by two sons, Norm, of Winnebago and Ron (Susie) of Ashton; one daughter, Nancy (John) Woodin of Dubuque IA; five grandchildren: Laura (Kirt) Davis, Susan Dean, Jeff (Teri) Spitz, Rob (Jenni McCarthy) Woodin, & Mike (Lydia) Woodin; five great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Mildred Zeller of Rockford IL and five nieces and two nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Robert, her brothers, John and Sam Zeller, a daughter-in-law Melanie Dean, a great-grandson, Tyler Spitz and a nephew, Allen Eich. Visitation will be Thursday October 1, from 5:00-8:00 pm at the Coulon-Lyon Funeral Home in Ashton, 601 S. Richardson Ave. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Friday at 11:00 am (with visitation before at 10:00) at the Ashton United Methodist Church (Richardson Ave at 4th St), Ashton, IL, Pastor Tom Renardo officiating. Burial will be at Ashton Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Ashton United Methodist Church.