Helen Klimek

Helen E. Klimek, 96, an avid reader and advocate for children's literacy, passed away Tuesday, February 14 of natural causes at the St. Francis Nursing Center in Newport News, VA. Helen was born July 2, 1909 in McKinley, MN to the late John and Mary Mushinski. She was educated in McKinley and Gilbert, MN, graduating from Gilbert High School and then from teacher training at Eveleth Jr. College. Later, she enrolled in the School of Library Science at the University of Minnesota. Following a brief teaching career on the Iron Range of MN, she relocated to Wausau, WI, where she worked as a librarian's assistant in the Wausau Public Library and later in the clerk's office of the Marathon County Court House. In 1940 she marred the late Henry J. Klimek, of Wausau, in St. Michael Catholic Church, Wausau. The couple relocated to Sturgeon Bay, WI in 1942 where Mrs. Klimek worked in the children's department of the Door County public library for 12 years. The couple moved to St. Francis, WI in 1955 and Mrs. Klimek became the children's librarian at the South Milwaukee public library, serving her last year as the interim Head Librarian before her retirement in 1970. The Klimeks retired to Wausau, WI in 1976, where they remained until 1996 when they moved to Williamsburg, VA. In addition to her husband, Henry J. Klimek, Mrs. Klimek was preceded in death by two sisters: Angeline Mushinski and Eleanor Mushinski (Ray) Holm. Mrs. Klimek is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law: Eleanore (Ronald E.) Jacobson, of Williamsburg, and Ruth (Lawrence E.) Hoffman, of Salt Lake City, UT; four grandchildren: Bret H. Jacobson, of Hampton, Courtney Jacobson (Thomas K.) Rowlands, of Ryhall/Stamford, England, Eric M. (Monica) Hoffman, of Salt Lake City, UT, and Kristen Hoffman (Travis) Messenger, of Sandy, UT; three great-grandchildren: Logan and Grace Messenger and Olivia Hoffman; one brother, Bernard (Vivian) Mushinski, of Woodbury, MN; three sisters: Francis Seguin, Agnes Miller and Genevieve Beaudoin, all of Duluth, MN, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. The funeral mass will be celebrated at 12 o'clock noon on Thursday, March 2, 2006 at St. Michael Catholic Church, Wausau, WI. The Reverend William Grevatch will preside. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, Wausau. The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. until the time of services at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Francis Nursing Center, 4 Ridgewood Parkway, Newport News, VA 23602 or Reading is Fundamental, Donations Processing, 1825 Connecticut Ave. N.W., Suite 400, Washington, D.C., 20009. Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, Wausau, WI is in charge of the arrangements.