Helen Katrine Vercler, 92 of Chenoa, passed away at 7:30 pm, Wednesday, May 10, 2017at her residence in Chenoa.

Following the example of her father who died in 1983, Helen chose to donate her body to medical science through the Anatomical Gift Association of Illinois for the purpose of medical education and research.

A memorial service will be at 3 pm, Sunday, May 21, 2017 at the Chenoa United Methodist Church, Chenoa.  A visitation time with the family will be 1:00 to 2:45pm, prior to the memorial service also at the church on Sunday. Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Chenoa is in charge of arrangements.

Helen was born on August 31, 1924; in Fifield, WI; the daughter of Christian and Kelsie (Goodale) Yoder.  She married Francis "Bud" Vercler on February 8, 1948 in Fairbury.  Her husband "Bud" survives in Chenoa.

Other survivors include her three children, Dennis (Ann) Vercler of Crane Hill, AL; Joel (Nancy) Vercler of Bloomington; Gina (Michael) Wey of Austin, TX; seven grandchildren, Megan (Michael Plumber) Bones of Holly Ridge, NC; Rachel (Andrew) Bond of Bloomington; Christian (Cristina) Vercler of Chenoa; Jon (Molli) Wey of Bloomington; Erik (Mikey) Wey of Austin, TX; Bryan (Katherine Walker) Vercler of San Francisco, CA; Neal Vercler of Knoxville, TN; seven great grandchildren and two sisters, Crystal Sancken of Eureka; and Ida Ferree of Hot Springs Village, AR.

Her parents and a twelve-year-old brother, Clark Yoder, preceded her in death.

After graduating from Wisconsin Rapids High School, she moved to Central Illinois and entered the three-year Cadet Nurse program at Brokaw School of Nursing, graduating in 1947.  Helen spent many years working in the nursing profession in a variety of settings including office nursing for Dr. R.L. Oyer in Chenoa; the Meadows Mennonite Retirement Community and several positions in hospitals in Urbana, Pontiac and Fairbury.

Helen enjoyed the written word and was a dedicated writer of family history and her own life experiences.  She was also an amateur artist having completed many paintings in oils and watercolor and enjoyed several types of craftwork.

Serving as a member of the Chenoa United Methodist Church for over 60 years, in lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) or to Chenoa United Methodist Church.

The family would like to thank OSF Hospice, the dedicated employees of the Meadows Mennonite Retirement Community and Dr. Daniel Lau and his staff for the excellent care they provided during Helen's illness.