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Helen Maybelle (Buchanan) Extrom, 96, of Janesville died on July 15, 2011 at Cedar Ridge Assisted Living. She was born near Viola, WI on July 24, 1914, the daughter of Charles “Llano” and Autie (Roberts) Buchanan and was named after her aunt Helen Buchanan. In 1924, her father was recruited to work for Fisher Body (later, General Motors) in Janesville. Helen graduated from Janesville High School in 1931 at the age of 16 and married Sylvester Extrom on July 25, 1936.

After working as a nanny in Darien, Helen began working at Fisher Body in 1934. The day of the Great Sit-Down Strike, the boys sent her home because it was “no place for a woman”. In 1943, she took work as a grinder operator at the Fairbanks Morse Company in Beloit, a job she held until her retirement in 1979. Helen devoted the rest of her life to helping raise her great-nieces and nephews, volunteering for the United Methodist Church in Edgerton, where she was a member of over 60 years, painting ceramics, volunteering at Cedar Crest and handing out cookies to the neighborhood children on Purvis Avenue. Helen often told stories of farm and factory, people and places, God and commitment —stories we surrender with her passing.

Helen is survived by her niece, Linda (Curt) Geller, great-niece, Lisa Buchanan, great-nephew, Robert C. Buchanan; two nephews, Philip (Diane) Buchanan, Robert S. Buchanan, a niece, Barbara Grochowski, great-nieces and nephews: Jennifer (Craig) Penttinen, Adam (Jen) York, Sarah Buchanan, Carie (Jason)Waugh, Emily and Mitchell Buchanan; and one great-great-nephew, Grant Penttinen. She is also survived by countless friends and family who remember her lovingly and fondly as Aunt Helen.

She was preceded in death by her brother, James (1916), sister, Clive Weber (1961), brother-in-law, Joe Weber (1962), mother (1962), husband, Sylvester (1969), father (1971), brother, Robert L. Buchanan (2003 and sister-in-law, Claire Buchanan (2010)

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 20, 2011 at the United Methodist Church of Edgerton, 112 Albion Street with Pastor Jean Bartlett officiating. Interment will be in Milton Lawns Memorial Park, Janesville. Visitation will be at the Church on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. Memorials may be made in Helen’s name to the United Methodist Church of Edgerton. Assisting the family is Henke-Clarson Funeral Home. www.henkeclarson.com.

Helen Maybelle (Buchanan) Extrom, 96, of Janesville died on July 15, 2011 at Cedar Ridge Assisted Living. She was born near Viola, WI on July 24, 1914, the daughter of Charles “Llano” and Autie (Roberts) Buchanan and was named after her aunt Helen Buchanan. In 1924, her father was recruited to work for Fisher Body (later, General Motors) in Janesville. Helen graduated from Janesville High School in 1931 at the age of 16 and married Sylvester Extrom on July 25, 1936.

After working as a nanny in Darien, Helen began working at Fisher Body in 1934. The day of the Great Sit-Down Strike, the boys sent her home because it was “no place for a woman”. In 1943, she took work as a grinder operator at the Fairbanks Morse Company in Beloit, a job she held until her retirement in 1979. Helen devoted the rest of her life to helping raise her great-nieces and nephews, volunteering for the United Methodist Church in Edgerton, where she was a member of over 60 years, painting ceramics, volunteering at Cedar Crest and handing out cookies to the neighborhood children on Purvis Avenue. Helen often told stories of farm and factory, people and places, God and commitment —stories we surrender with her passing.

Helen is survived by her niece, Linda (Curt) Geller, great-niece, Lisa Buchanan, great-nephew, Robert C. Buchanan; two nephews, Philip (Diane) Buchanan, Robert S. Buchanan, a niece, Barbara Grochowski, great-nieces and nephews: Jennifer (Craig) Penttinen, Adam (Jen) York, Sarah Buchanan, Carie (Jason)Waugh, Emily and Mitchell Buchanan; and one great-great-nephew, Grant Penttinen. She is also survived by countless friends and family who remember her lovingly and fondly as Aunt Helen.

She was preceded in death by her brother, James (1916), sister, Clive Weber (1961), brother-in-law, Joe Weber (1962), mother (1962), husband, Sylvester (1969), father (1971), brother, Robert L. Buchanan (2003 and sister-in-law, Claire Buchanan (2010)

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 20, 2011 at the United Methodist Church of Edgerton, 112 Albion Street with Pastor Jean Bartlett officiating. Interment will be in Milton Lawns Memorial Park, Janesville. Visitation will be at the Church on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. Memorials may be made in Helen’s name to the United Methodist Church of Edgerton. Assisting the family is Henke-Clarson Funeral Home. www.henkeclarson.com.