Helen Wollenweber age 95, died on Sunday, January 3rd at Greenleaf Living Center. Helen was born in Clare, Illinois, the daughter of Marshall L. and Stella O. (Coleman) Wolfe. The family lived on several farms around DeKalb and Sycamore, Illinois. Helen started her education at Person one-room country school in DeKalb County, Illinois and graduated from DeKalb High School in 1938. She graduated Northern Illinois State Teachers College in 1940 with a Junior College Certificate (Associate degree). After graduation, she took a teaching position at Person School until 1945. On July 6, 1945 Helen married her college sweetheart, William I. Wollenweber of Shabbona, Illinois in Sycamore, Illinois. After a short residence in Indianapolis, Helen moved to Elkhart and held a first grade teaching position at Lincoln School from 1946-1948. In the early 1960s, Helen took a position as a Welcome Wagon hostess. She then taught preschool at Trinity United Methodist Nursery School for thirty-nine years from 1966 until her retirement in May, 2005. Helen took an active part in the community. She was a past member of the Elkhart County Altrusa Club. She volunteered for many years at the Association for Disabled of Elkhart County (ADEC), and was a member of its Board of Trustees. Over the years, she participated in or volunteered at every ADEC event, such as the ADEC Ride-A-Bike for which she was Grand Marshal in 2005. At ADECs 27th annual awards dinner in 2004 she received the Outstanding Kindness Award, ADEC's highest individual honor. In 2007, Helen was recognized as the oldest walker in the Elkhart CROP walk. She also delivered meals for the Elkhart General Hospital Meals on Wheels program. She was a longtime member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Elkhart, Indiana, and served on the Board of Trustees. There she taught Sunday school for thirty-six years, and was a member of the DuoDoers and Seekers adult classes, and Esther Circle. Helen was an early member of the Council for the Retarded of Elkhart County, later known as Aux Chandelles, and today is known as ADEC. Her advocacy for the disabled was fueled by her first hand experience. In 1955 she gave birth to Mark, a Down Syndrome child. In 1962, her husband died suddenly, and she was left alone to raise Mark and her older son, Gary. The lack of information and support for Mark's condition did not deter her determination to care for him by herself. Helen's efforts served as a role model to many other parents who raise Down Syndrome children today. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Marshall J. Wolfe, and his wife Cleo, her husband, and her son, Mark I. Wollenweber. She leaves one son, Gary C. Wollenweber (Cynthia A. Crane), Cincinnati, Ohio. A memorial service will be held at the Trinity United Methodist Church, 2715 E. Jackson Blvd, Elkhart IN 46516 at 1 p.m. Friday, January 8th with Pastor Sam Needham officiating. Visitation will precede the service from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Trinity. Helen has suggested memorials to ADEC Inc., 19670 State Road 120, PO Box 398, Bristol, IN 46507, and/or Trinity United Methodist Church.