Helen (Osman) Wilkinson Zellers, 83, of Ottawa, died on Wednesday morning, January 18, at her home due to complications from vascular dementia.Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday at Mueller’s Funeral Home in Ottawa. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, January 24, at Illinois Valley Evangelical Church (the former Faith Lutheran Church), 1611 Adams, Ottawa. Burial will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park.
Helen was born on December 8, 1933, in Ottawa to John William and Ethel (Rogers) Osman, Sr. She married William T. Zellers on August 27, 1977. She was a life-long Ottawa area resident where she was a secretary at Seneca High School, executive secretary for 25 years at Union Carbide, and secretary at the State of Illinois Conservation office. She was a charter member of the former Faith Lutheran Church. Helen was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She enjoyed participating in bridge clubs, playing the piano, using her computer, supporting her church, visiting her daughter in Texas, and traveling to 48 states as well as Mexico and Canada with her husband.
She is survived by her husband, Bill, her children Rhonda, Scott, and Tami of Dallas, TX, former daughter-in-law Judy, her grandchildren Kyle, Marc, and Rebecca Wilkinson, two sisters, Juanita (Russell deceased) Leger, of Peru and Lavina (Paul) Leger of Wisconsin. She is also survived by a stepson Tom (Pat) Zellers, step grandchildren Kim (Brian) Shute and Shawn Zellers, and step great-grandchildren Abbie, Alivia, and Cole.
She was preceded in death by her parents, a sister Loretta VeZain, three brothers Roger, Bob, and Kenny Osman, a half-brother John W. Osman, Jr., two stepsons Jerry and Billy Zellers, and a very special aunt, Mae Staib.
Memorials may be directed to Illinois Valley Pads of Ottawa, Trinity Lutheran Church of Ottawa, Illinois Valley Evangelical Church of Ottawa, or donor’s choice.
Helen has been laid to rest in the Garden of the Ten Commandments.