Galena Daily Gazette, 29 Dec 1960

William H. Heller, 82, a lifelong resident of the Galena area, died suddenly at his home on the Elizabeth road Friday afternoon.

Services were held Monday at 2pm at the Nash Funeral Home in Galena with the Rev. Raymond White, pastor of the First Methodist Church, officiating.

Casket bearers were Floyd Heller of Waterloo, Ia., Alfred Heller of Shullsburg, Edgar Hallett of Brandon, Ia., Russell Hallet of Independence, Ia., and Donald Beadle and Richard Beadle of Galena. Burial was in Greenwood Cemetery.

Born in East Galena township on May 5, 1878, Mr. Heller was the son of the late William and Ann Lee Heller. He received his education in the rural East Galena township schools.

On Dec. 9, 1903, he married Myrtle Snyder in Galena. They spent their entire married life farming, until he retired from active farming about seven years ago.

He was a member of the First Methodist Church of Galena and Wildey Lodge No. 5, I.O.O.F.

Surviving are his wife, two daughters, Mrs. Clyde (Bertha) Obermiller and Mrs. Melvin (Dorothy) Bader; two sons, Earl and Robert; two sisters, Mrs. Bertha Bucher and Mrs. Minnie Beadle; one brother, Henry, all of Galena; four grandchildren; and two great grandchildren. Two brothers, Richard and Fred, also preceded him in death.

William H. Heller (1870-1960)
Photo taken in 1956

His Wife

Galena Gazette, 15 Jan 1970, p1

Mrs. William (Myrtle) Heller, 86, of Galena died January 6 at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Clyde Obermiller, 527 South Main Street.

She was born October 23, 1883 in Galena, daughter of the late Henry and Alice Ivey Snyder and was united in marriage to William Heller December 9, 1903.

She is survived by two daughters, Mr. Clyde (Bertha) Obermiller and Mrs. Melvin (Dorothy) Bader, two sons, Earl Heller and Robert Heller, both of Galena, four grandchildren and six great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1960 and seven sisters. She was a member of the United Methodist Church.

Funeral services were held January 9 at 1:30pm at Nash-Schmadeke Funeral Home with the Rev. Joe Gibbons of the United Methodist Church conducting the service.

Casket bearers were Thomas Beadle, Donald Beadle, Donald Beadle, Raymond Wienan of Galena, Floyd Heller of Waterloo, Ia., Alfred Heller of Schullsburg, Wis., and Edgar Hallett of Brandon, Ia., all nephews of Mrs. Heller. Nash-Schmadeke Funeral Home were in charge of arrangements.

Their Children...

Galena Gazette, 25 Nov 1992
Bertha V. Obermiller, 88, died Nov. 22, 1992, at Galena-Strauss Nursing Care Facility. She was born Oct. 17, 1904, in East Galena Township, the daughter of William and Myrtle Snyder Heller.

She married Clyde Obermiller on Feb. 19, 1926, in Galena. She and her husband farmed for many years in rural Galena.

She was a member of the United Methodist Church, Methodist Church Women and the Ladies Aid of the Church. She also did volunteer work for the Galena Historical Society and the General Store.

Surviving is one sister, Mrs. Dorothy Bader of Galena. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and two brothers.

Services will be held at 1:30pm on Nov. 25, 1992, at the Steinke Funeral Home, with burial in Greenwood Cemetery. The Rev. Bonnie Ogie-Christianson will officiate. Pallbearers will be Bill Heller, Tom Heller, Hal Heller, Richard Davis, Roger Gratton, and Melvin Gratton.

Galena Gazette, 28 Jan 1971
Galena man dies at wheel of car
Clyde L. Obermiller, 527 South Main Street, apparently suffered a fatal heart attack Saturday morning while driving, moments before his car and a station wagon driven by David G. Pettengill, Libertyville, collided on Riverside Drive.

Police and fire departments were called, and artificial respiration was given.

Pettengill told city police he was driving north on Riverside when he saw the Obermiller vehicle coming toward his car, veering across the center line into his lane, and was unable to avoid a collision. Damage to both vehicles was estimated at $100.00.

Galena Gazette, 4 Dec 1991, p4
Earl William Heller, 85, of rural Galena died Tuesday evening, Nov. 26, 1991, at Mercy Health Center St. Joseph's Unit, Dubuque, Iowa.

Born Feb. 9, 1906, in Hanover Township in Jo Daviess County, he was the son of William and Myrtle (Snyder) Heller. He attended Glen Hollow School in Jo Daviess County. He married Vera Bainbridge on Jan. 22, 1932, in Galena; she survives.

He farmed in the East Galena Township area all of his life and was active in farming until the time of his death. He started his own trucking business in 1930, selling coal, wood, Case farm machinery and Dodge and Plymouth cars and trucks. Later he began selling fuel oil and discontinued all but the sale of coal. In 1954, he added a Ready-Mix concrete to the list of products sold. He sold the entire business in 1957.

Mr. Heller also managed the Local Livestock Shipping Association for four years. He was elected East Galena Township Road Commissioner from 1965-1978, serving for 13 years. He had been a member of the local Bronc and Saddle Club, serving as president for two years, and the Mississippi Valley Riders Association. He was a 60-year member of the Wildey Odd Fellows Lodge, a 50-year member of the Galena Elks Lodge, and a 50-year member of the Galena Eagles Lodge.

Survivors, in addition to his wife, include a son, and two sisters, Mrs. Bertha Obermiller and Mrs. Dorothy Bader, both of Galena.

Memorials may be given to the Galena Fire Department, Galena Emergency Medical Service and the Hazel Green (Wis.) Ambulance Service.

Wake services were held on Friday, Nov. 29. Funeral services were held at 1:30pm on Saturday, Nov. 30, at Steinke Funeral Home, Galena. Burial was in Greenwood Cemetery. Casket bearers were Bill Heller, Bill Dayton, Bob Dayton, John Westemeier, John Becker, Richard Davis, Cletus Koester and Dale Bahr.

Galena Gazette, 23 Apr 1993
GALENA--Vera E. Heller, 81, of Galena, died April 15, 1993, at her home.

She was born Dec. 11, 1911, in Galena, the daughter of Joseph William and Anna Buxton Bainbridge. She married Earl W. Heller on Jan. 21, 1932. She and her husband owned and operated E. W. Heller Coal and Wood. They later added fuel oil and concrete to their business.

She was a member of the Galena Women's Club, Rebekah Lodge and the Galena/Jo Daviess County Historical Society and Museum. She was a member of the Jo Daviess County Board from 1974 to 1982, and she served on the committee that was instrumental in establishing the Galena-Strauss Hospital.

Survivors include one son, Hal Heller of Galena and one sister, Mrs. Edna Dayton of Galena. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents and one brother.

Services were held April 18, 1993 at the Steinke Funeral Home, with burial in Greenwood Cemetery. The Rev. Tom Grey officiated. Pallbearers were Tom Rigdon, Dan Rigdon, Bill Heller, Bill Dayton, Bob Dayton, and Dale Bahr. Memorials may be sent to the Galena-Strauss Hospital.

Galena Gazette, 23 Mar 1978
Services held for Robert Heller

Robert Orville Heller, 70 of rt. 2, Galena, died Friday evening, March 17 at the Galena Hospital.

Born March 9, 1908 in East Galena Township, he was the son of the late William and Myrtle Snyder Heller and was united in marriage to Ardale Stadel on April 28, 1936.

He farmed most of his life in East Galena Township.

He is survived by his widow, Ardale, one daughter, one son, one brother, Earl Heller and two sisters, Mrs. Bertha Obermiller and Mrs. Dorothy Bader all of Galena, six grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Services were held at 2pm Monday, March 20 in the Steinke Funeral Home with the Rev. Roger Cheek, pastor of United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial was in Greenwood Cemetery. Casket bearers were Jack Davis, James Pearce, Alfred Hasken, Duane Trebian, Hal Heller, and Pat Beadle. Steinke Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

His Wife

Galena Gazette, 3 Dec 1986, p13
Ardale Heller, 71, of 318 S. Bench St. Galena, died Tuesday morning, Nov. 25, 1986, at the Galena-Strauss Hospital.

Born Oct. 25, 1915 in Schapville, she was the daughter of Edward and Sophia Grebner Stadel. She married Robert Heller in Freeport on April 28, 1936. He preceded her in death on March 17, 1978.

Survivors include one daughter, one son, six grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Services were held at 1:30pm Friday, Nov. 28, in the Steinke Funeral Home with the Rev. Donna Wrzescz, pastor of Zion Presbyterian Church in Schapville, officiating. Burial was in Greenwood Cemetery. Casket bearers were John Davis, Hal Stadel, Pat Beadle, Dennis Trebian, Gene Maeder and Michael Marshall.

Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA) - February 9, 2005

GALENA, Ill. - Dorothy W. Bader, 87, of The Kahl Home, Davenport, Iowa, formerly of Galena, died at 10:35 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 6, 2005, at The Kahl Home.

Services will be at noon Thursday at Miller & Steinke Funeral Home, Galena, with Pastor Todd Brewer officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Galena. Friends may call after 10 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Mrs. Bader was formerly employed by Dr. Runde in Galena, The Taylor House and Burgess Battery Factory.

She was born on Jan. 17, 1918, in Galena, daughter of William and Myrtle (Snyder) Heller. She married Melvin Bader on Nov. 25, 1937, in Dubuque; he died on June 13, 1977.

She was a member of United Methodist Church in Galena. She loved crocheting afghans, gardening, working with her plants and visiting with her friends on the telephone.

Surviving is a daughter, of Davenport. She also was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Robert Heller and Earl Heller; and a sister, Bertha Obermiller. A Dorothy Bader Memorial Fund has been established.

Galena Gazette, 16 Jun 1977
Melvin Bader Dies Monday in Hospital

Melvin L. Bader, 62, of 347 Franklin Street, Galena, died Monday morning, June 13, at the Galena Hospital.

Born March 28, 1916 at Galena, he was the son of the late Albert and Amanda Young Bader and was united in marriage to Dorothy Heller in Dubuque on Nov. 25, 1937. He was a veteran of World War II serving in the army. He was a member of the United Methodist Church of Galena and the V. F. W. in Hanover. He was employed in security at the Savanna Ordinance Depot prior to his retirement three years ago.

Survivors include his widow, Dorothy, one daughter, two brothers, Leslie Bader of Des Moines and Robert of Milwaukee, and one sister, Mrs. John (Bertha) Parsons of Downers Grove, Ill. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Raymond.

Services were held at 1:30pm Wednesday, June 15, in the Steinke Funeral Home with Rev. Roger Check, pastor of the United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial was in Greenwood Cemetery. Casket bearers were Hal Heller, Tom Bader, William Heller, Richard Jorgeson, Edmund Spurr, and Raymond Creighton.