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Laura Hellrung Obituary
LAURA M. "Duke" HELLRUNG
ALTON — Laura M. Hellrung died May 11, 2017, six weeks before her 94th birthday, at the Eunice Smith Home in Alton, Illinois. She was born June 21, 1923 in Terre Haute, Indiana, to Martin and Flora (Foehrer) Ellspermann. She married Herbert R. Hellrung on August 17, 1946 in Terre Haute. He died September 19, 1985. Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her sister Joanne Rathgeb and brother Howard Ellspermann.
She is survived by four daughters, Laura (George) Jones of Fort Collins, Colorado, Flora "Peggy" Van Koten of Alton, Illinois, Robbie (Tim) Waldron of St. Peters, Missouri, and Mary Pat (Fred) Venardos of Godfrey, Illinois.
Her two sons are Chris (Clarice) Hellrung and Joseph (Jana) Hellrung, both of Alton, Illinois.
She also is survived by fourteen grandchildren:
Amelia Jones of Phoenix, Arizona and Nicholas Jones of Denver, Colorado; Allison (Joe) Hewitt of Brighton, Illinois and Justin Van Koten (Amber) of Pleasant Hill, California; Jonathan Waldron (Catherine) of O'Fallon, Missouri, Amanda (Jeff) Kroll of Alton, Zachary (Tabitha) Waldron of St. Peters, Missouri and Ben Waldron of Phoenix; Freddie (Danielle) Venardos of Godfrey, Illinois; Erica (Jared) Shires and Bryan (Rebecca) Hellrung of Alton, Illinois, and Nathan (Lindsey) Hellrung of Brighton; Luke (Aleah) Hellrung of Alton and Caitlin Hellrung of St. Louis, Missouri.
She also is survived by twenty-two great-grandchildren!
She was a faithful member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Alton, and a past-president of both St. Joseph's Hospital Auxiliary and the Junior Service League of Alton. She had been a member of the Alton Community Service League since 1974, and in May, 2016, she was voted an emeritus member during the organization's 60th anniversary year in recognition of her more than four decades of exemplary service to the Alton community.
Visitation will be Tuesday, May 16, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Staten-Fine Funeral Home in Alton. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Alton by Father John Paul Klein, O.M.V. Interment will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery in Alton.
Memorials may be made to St. Mary's Catholic Church (519 E. 4th) and St. Mary's Catholic School (536 E. 5th) both in Alton, Illinois (62002).
An on-line tribute and guest book may be found at www.staten-fine.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Laura Hellrung
Mike Storms
May 28, 2017
Your Mom was always Aunt Duke for us. She was a great lady, we'll all miss her.
May 19, 2017
So very sorry about the loss of your Mother. I enjoyed talking to her. She always had a smile for everyone she met.
Dorothy Droste
May 18, 2017
Laura was a beautiful and gracious lady. She gave many years of service to the Greater Alton Alton Community. So sorry of your loss. God Bless the family. Dorothy Droste
John Wykes
May 17, 2017
So sorry for your loss. What a wonderful lady.
Julie Eddins
May 16, 2017
Mary Pat and all, So sorry for your loss. My prayers are with you and wishing I could be there in person to give you a hug. Love Julie
Sarah Farley Woodman
May 15, 2017
What a great gal! How you all will miss her. I have such great memories of my mother and she playing bridge and having fun. My deepest sympathies to all.
Michael Buxton
May 15, 2017
She touched the lives of a great deal of people. She will be missed. Our thoughts go out to your entire family.
Peggy Oungst
May 14, 2017
Mary Pat,
I am sorry to hear of the loss of your mother. Her obituary is a beautiful tribute to her service in the Alton Community. She a beautifu Woman.
John Waters
May 13, 2017
Mrs Hellrung was a grand lady. Always welcomed me to their house. She made visitors feel like they were part of the family.
donna anslyn
May 13, 2017
chris mary pat and others--she was a sweet lady.always a kind word when i ran into her.she will be missed on election day
Jim & Wools Lavelle
May 13, 2017
So sorry to read about the lost of your mother. Jim & Wools Lavelle
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