Helen Louise Sullivan Ritter, Elkhorn  (1918 - 2009)

January 31, 1918 - November 18, 2009
Helen Louise Sullivan Ritter, 91, of Lauderdale Lakes, Elkhorn, WI, died peacefully Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009, at her home, surrounded by her loving family. She was born to Nellie Helen Taucke on Jan. 31, 1918, in Chicago, IL. Helen attended Bryant-Stratton College in Chicago, IL. On June 12, 1937, she married George P. Sullivan in Chicago; he died on April 22, 1973. On Aug. 14, 1975, Helen was united in marriage to Julius P. Ritter in Elkhorn; he died in 1980. Helen was a homemaker and a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church of Elkhorn, she volunteered with the Lakeland Hospital Auxiliary, and she was a member of the women’s bowling league and Lauderdale Lakes women’s golf league.
Helen is survived by her seven children: Peter G. (Lana) Sullivan of New Orleans, LA, Patrick J. (Barbara Davenport) Sullivan of Nashville, TN, Dorothy A. (Al Hermansen) Sullivan of Los Angeles, CA, Charles M. (Kathy) Sullivan of Elkhorn, WI, Mary K. Keierleber of Delafield, WI, Kevin A. (Kristi) Sullivan of Elkhorn, WI and James T. (Kelly) Sullivan of Elkhorn, WI; 14 grandchildren: George, Margaret, Kathleen, Jill, John, Donna, Christine, Scott, Kristine, Daniel, Lauren, Bethany, Erin, and Reese; 13 great-grandchildren: Emily, Courtney, Lauren, Brooke, Nathan, Zachary, Christopher Ray, Blake, Carly, Michael, Ashley, Jessica and Aaron; cousins: Letita (Robert) Donner, Robert Tompkins, and Lenora (Gary) Berkebile; dear and cherished friends: Sharon (Carl) Rieken, Mary Orton Sullivan, Jeff Keierleber, and Tom (Joan) Ritter.
Helen was preceded in death by her mother; two husbands, George Sullivan and Julius Ritter; and cousins, Frank (Lorraine) Truschke and Lydia Tompkins.
Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 23, 2009, at ST. PATRICK’S CATHOLIC CHURCH, 107 W. Walworth St., Elkhorn, with Father Jim Jaeger officiating. Burial will be at Graceland Cemetery in Chicago, IL, on Tuesday. Visitation will be on Sunday from 2 until 5 p.m. at HAASE-DERRICK-LOCKWOOD FUNERAL HOME, 730 N. Wisconsin St. Elkhorn. Memorials may be made in Helen’ name to: VNA-Hospice 500 Interchange North, Lake Geneva, WI 53147. For online obituary and guest registry go to: www.hdlfuneralhomes.com.