CHARLOTTE

born: December 20, 1921

died: June 2, 1988

Another Girl! I know the folks were always proud of their ten boys and on girl, but words can not describe their feelings when the new baby was a girl.

When Charlotte and June were small Ethel made the girls rag dolls, only instead of rags, they were stuffed with green sawdust. Green sawdust would shrink after it dried. Joe and I would take the now floppy dolls and stuff an arm or a leg up inside. Boy, would those little girls yell about their one armed or one legged dolls. They always seemed to forgive u~ though.

One summer Charlotte got her hand caught in the rat trap three times. (she says twice). I accused her of being a dumb kid. (She says it was curiosity). I always said, she tried to beat the trap by trying to get her hand out before the trap closed (Charlotte says the second time he. brothers told her it wasn't set). Guess w will never know.

When we moved to Wyoming, Charlotte was nine and I was seventeen. The folks were well accepted in the new community, a small friendly town of 1400 people.

Dad had been very successful in the sawmill business. He had become financially solvent after quitting the farm and moving' to town.

The future looked good. For the George Helle Family, it looked like the depression was over. Charlotte, ten, and June, now eight, were two little girls we were all so very proud of.

August 1932, Charlotte and June took sick. In the first few days, when they were sick, I would go past each day, (while working) and pick them up and take them to get a cold pop. We had no refrigerator. Eventually, they got too sick to go. June never recovered. I always felt so bad for Charlotte when she lost her special playmate.

Charlotte did manage to grow up, but not too tall - about five feet. She did it with "personality-plus" in spite of us boys. I remember how beautiful and popular she was at the Wyoming High School. She was so tiny and those dark eyes just sparkled! She was a baton-twirler and led the band in the high school parades.

On June 10, 1938, she married Harrison Osborn. They had four children:

Carol JuneDec. 23, 1938

Sharon KayeJan. 29, 1942

George ElroyMay 11, 1944

Crystal DawnJuly 17, 1947

They have thirteen grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

Harrison and Charlotte lived at Wyoming, Illinois for about three years, then in about 1940, they moved to Savanna. In 1949 they started a sawmill at DeWitt, Iowa. This mill burned down, so they then moved north of Pekin, IL, and lived there about ten years.

In 1963, Harrison, a professional logger, with much experience, joined us at Wood Products, for which we are grateful. He has been here ever since.

On August 13, 1973, Harry and Charlotte bought the "Off the Highway Motel", at Savanna. Harry still works at the mill but does all the maintenance at the motel too. It keeps him busy. Charlotte takes care of the rentals of the motel.

We are proud of this family and thoroughly enjoy their company. We visit them several times each month and travel at least one weekend each year with them.

We always figured, Charlotte got a little spoiled and where we quit, Harry took over, but if she is spoiled then we ought to have more like her. We wouldn't change her. Thank heaven for little sisters.

NOTE:June2, 1988, WelostSister Charlotte of Congestive Heart Failure. It is a tragic loss to our entire family. We all miss her so. June was also Sister June's birthday. Her funeral was on June 4, which was Ethel's wedding anniversary. NOTE  BY  SHELDON: The following poem

reminds me of Charlotte and our brothers:

I BEEN A LOOKIN' FER YOU

We had an older brother,

Who was patient, dear and kind.

We could tell him all our troubles

And he never seemed to mind.

I'd call him on the telephone

And always heard him say,

"I been a looking for you, Sis,

I aint seen you fer awhile.

Then our brother had turned eighty,

Oh how fast those years go by.

He was suddenly taken from us,

In the winking of an eye.

Just a very short time later On a cold and stormy night

A beloved sister slipped away,

Just beyond our touch a sight.

I am sure she found him waiting

In a bright and happy place

With his hand upraised in greeting

And a smile upon his face.

With his arm around her shoulder,

I just know she heard him say,

"I been a loolking fer you, Sis,

I was sure you'd come today."

by Amelia Perrin

Williamsburg, Iowa

(the poem was revised slightly with the name of the brother removed to apply here.)

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