Katie Helfrich

Katie was born October 2, 1926 in Ackley, Iowa to Arthur and Edith Symington Hale and died Wednesday, April 30, 2025. She was the beloved sister of Dr. Don (Henrietta) Hale and adored sister-in-law of Fr. George Helfrich. She was the beautiful mother of Steve (Jeanne), Gene (Chris) Patty Hall (Tony) and Mary. She was the plucky and proud grandmother of Todd (Sarah) Ben (Christynne) Dan (Raelyn) Helfrich, Casey (Mac) Armstrong and Amy (Carl) Adams. Katie and Tim Lange. Precious great grandmother of Madeleine, Haley and Caroline Helfrich, Henry, Cooper, Elliott, CJ Armstrong, Charlie and Mackenzie Adams, AJ and Jo Helfrich, Clark and Rita Lange. She was also dear aunt to Nancy, Tom and Bill Hale.
Katie studied organ at Oberlin Conservatory of Music. After many years teaching private piano lessons at home in Northbrook, as well as being the music teacher at St. Norbert's school and primary organist for the church, she received her Elementary Education degree from Iowa State University in 1977.
Resilient. Talented. Smart and sensitive. She retired from teaching math in the Newton, Iowa elementary schools and returned to Northbrook, delighting friends, family and neighbors with her calligraphy and hand painted artwork. But, she missed all her "kids" in Iowa. And then, one of her "grownup-now" students called and Katie was whisked away to New York with her grand daughter Casey, where she became a surprise star on The View.
She played her final piano recital at Storypoint senior living in Libertyville, on April 23, 2025. Celebration of her life at N.H. Scott & Hanekamp Funeral Home, 1240 Waukegan Road, Glenview on May 26, 2025, from 3-5 pm.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital