COLUMBUS — Helen M. Damm, age 93, died on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, at Larson House in Columbus. She was born on March 2, 1916, in Rockford, IL, the daughter of James and Minnie (Smith) Thomas. She was married on April 6, 1942, to Earl E. Seidlinger in Rockford, IL. She was later married to Reuben F. Damm on June 17, 1972, in Madison. Helen was a 1934 graduate of Rockford High School and a 1938 graduate of Rockford College. She was a substitute biology teacher in Columbus and later returned to the University of Wisconsin where she received her master’s degree in library science and continued serving the Columbus School District as the middle school librarian until her retirement in 1978.
Helen lent her special musical talent to the St. Jerome’s congregation for many years as their church organist playing for church services, weddings and funerals. She served on the Columbus Public Library board for 20 years from 1974 to 1994 and had a great love of books. She recently purchased a microfilm reader for Columbus Public Library. She was a devoted advocate of Columbus Community Hospital. She served on the hospital board for several years, and at the time the board recognized that a new community hospital was needed. Helen believed in being environmentally responsible and was an early recycler. She loved classical music and listened to opera every Saturday on the radio, and never missed Chapter-A-Day on Wisconsin Public Radio. Helen always had the library get her the book they were reading so she could follow along. Helen also loved art and cardinals.
Survivors include three daughters, Mary Flower of Germantown, NY, Joan (Dennis) Loomis of Watertown, Ellen (Neal) Testin of Lino Lakes, MN; two sons, Tom Seidlinger of Fall River and Paul (Pat) Seidlinger of Columbus; four stepchildren, Dorothy (Dr. Robert) Jorgensen of Springfield, VA, Mary (James) Dieringer of Cookeville, TN, Eugene (Phyllis) Damm and Michael (Claire) Damm both of Columbus; nine grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; 16 step-grandchildren and 30 step-great grandchildren; one sister-in-law, Mary Ellen (Harry) Beattie of Rockford, IL. She was preceded in death by her parents, first husband, Earl, in 1955 and her second husband, Reuben, in 2003; a brother, Russell, in 1971.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 9, 2009, at St. Jerome Catholic Church in Columbus. The Rev. Bruce Hennington will officiate. Interment will be at St. Jerome Cemetery, Columbus. Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday at the funeral home and from 10:30 a.m. until the time of the service at the church on Monday. Memorials may be directed to the Columbus Public Library, Columbus Community Hospital or St. Jerome Church.
Jensen Funeral & Cremation, Columbus, is serving the family. View their Web site at jensenfuneralandcremation.com.