FRANKLIN GROVE — Helen Marie (Lohse) Gallimore, 92, of Franklin Grove, passed away on Monday, Nov. 27, 2017, at OSF Saint Anthony in Rockford.

She was born May 25, 1925, in Palatine, the daughter of Leon and Anna (Reuter) Anderson. She attended Palatine High School where she met Roy H. Lohse. They were later married on July 2, 1943. They were introduced to each other by Roy’s best friend, Ralph C. Gallimore while in high school. Roy was killed in a truck accident on July 23, 1953, leaving Helen seven months along with their fifth child.

Helen supported her family as Food Supervisor at Franklin Center High School for 12 years, from 1957 to 1969. She then became the Food Supervisor at Nachusa Lutheran Home in Dixon, from October 28, 1970 to May 29, 1987, where she retired. Helen also waitressed at the Manhattan Café in Dixon.

She was a Grove Girls 4-H leader for 16 years and a Cub Scout leader for 16 years. Helen taught Sunday School and Jr. Mission Band at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Franklin Grove.

At the young age of 61, while going to visit her sister in Palatine, Helen became reacquainted with Ralph Gallimore, at a Standard Oil Service Station. She later married Ralph on June 13, 1986. After retirement they moved to Harrisburg, where they made their home on Ralph’s family farm located in the Shawnee National Forest. Ralph passed away from cancer on Oct. 23, 1998. Helen lived in Harrisburg for 30 years. She was active with Pope-Hardin Homemakers and served as Chairman for many years. She helped with making quilts for the Vets as well as many other volunteer projects and organizations. Helen was a Red Hat member. 

She also enjoyed taking care of her flower beds and yard, oil painting, and traveling on vacation with her two youngest sisters, Shirley Madsen of McHenry, and Lois Ardino of Bloomfield, N.J. 

Helen is survived by four children, Laura (Dale) Pitzer, of Franklin Grove, Ralph (Julie) Lohse, of West Bend, Wis., Jim (Shirley) Lohse, of Dixon, and Gary Lohse, of Byron; two step-daughters, Barbara and Ellen, both of Vienna; 13 grandchildren, Jeff (Shelley) Pitzer, of Franklin Grove, Randy (Eva) Pitzer, of Dixon, Linda (Kurt) Dressnandt, of Mukwonago, Wis., Lisa (Chris) Jahn, of Franklin Grove, Marc (Keri) Lohse, of Liberty Township, Ohio, Tom Lohse, of West Bend, Ind., David (Tess) Lohse and Roy (Kelly) Lohse, both of Dixon, Chris (Angela) Lohse, of Rochelle, Nicki (Chris) Boyd, of Franklin Grove, Steve (Gleason) Lohse and Becky (Rick) Weigle, both of Dixon, Patty (Mike) Buyno of Ft. Riley, Kansas; 43 great grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; four sisters, Arlene Lundstrom, of Jacksonville, Fla., Betty Evans, of St. Petersburg, Fla., Shirley Madsen, of McHenry, and Lois Ardino, of Bloomfield, N.J.; her daughter-in-law, Patricia Lohse, of Dixon; and her granddaughter-in-law, Melinda Pitzer, of Paola, Kansas.

She was also preceded in death by her parents; one son, Dennis Lohse; one brother, Leon “Andy” Anderson; and one great-grandson, Mike Pitzer.  

Helen will be truly missed by all who were blessed to know her.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m., until time of funeral services at noon, on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017, at Preston-Schilling Funeral Home in Dixon, with the Pastor Jack Briggs, officiating. Burial will be at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Dixon.

Memorials have been established to Pope Harden Homemakers and St. Paul Lutheran Church in Franklin Grove.

Condolences may be sent to www.prestonschilling.com.