Helen A. Borer

ELGIN — Helen A. Borer, 79, Elgin, died March 4, 2020, at St. Joseph’s Care and Rehabilitation, Norfolk.

A Mass of Christian Burial was March 10 at St. Boniface Catholic Church, Elgin, with Rev. Kevin Vogel, Rev. Owen W. Korte, and Deacon Dennis Wiehn officiating.

Burial followed at St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery, Petersburg.

Visitation and a wake service were Monday at St. Boniface Catholic Church.

Levander Funeral Home, Elgin, was in charge of the arrangements.

Helen Ann Borer, the daughter of Joe and Louise (Loxterkamp) Ketteler, was born May 6, 1940, at home on the family farm near Petersburg. Helen attended school at St. John’s in Petersburg and graduated from there in 1958. Following her graduation, she worked at Dale Electronics, Columbus. Helen married Lawrence Borer at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Petersburg, Sept. 12, 1961. The couple farmed and raised their family south of Petersburg. While living on the farm, Helen was a homemaker, but also worked at the Petersburg Locker. In 1985, Helen and Larry moved to Elgin and Helen worked as a housekeeper for area priests.

Helen’s Catholic faith was important to her and she was a member of St. John’s the Baptist Catholic Church, and later, became a member of St. Boniface Catholic Church, Elgin. She was also involved in Christian Mothers as a Circle leader, was a part of the neighborhood rosary group for many years and helped with the St. John’s and St. Boniface bazaars. Like her sisters, she was an expert at preparing meals which were the center of the family gatherings. Helen enjoyed crafts with her daughter and granddaughters, growing and tending to her flowers, and spending time with her family. She especially loved all of her grandchildren.

Those left to cherish her memory include her husband: Larry Borer, Norfolk Veterans Home, Norfolk; four children, Jeff (Val) Borer, Norfolk; Brian (Donna) Borer, Lawton, Okla.; Jolene (Matt) Weinandt, Wynot; and Les (Rachelle) Borer, Norfolk; 10 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two brothers, Henry (Marilyn) Ketteler, Petersburg; Jim (Rosemary) Ketteler, Atkinson; sister-inlaw, Carol Borer, Auburn, Ind.; as well as nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Mary “Dolly” (Maurice) Henn and Patricia “Pat” (Ken) Schumacher; brothers-in-law, Vic (Ann) Borer; Dennis (Mildred) Borer; Roman (Willa) Borer; Gerald Borer; Joe Borer; sisters-in-law, Rita (Jim) Daly; Sally (Al) Hageman; June (Bud) Simons; Claire (husbands, Stanley Simons and Mel Pelster) Pelster; and Bernadine (Lawrence) Spieker.