Evelyn May (Faber) Beilke

Evelyn May (Faber) Beilke, 87, passed away peacefully on April 7, 2013 at the EnnobleSkilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Dubuque, IA.

She was born Aug. 18, 1925 in Galena IL, beloved daughter of John and Margaret Faber. Evelyn was the youngest of six daughters. After graduating from the Galena High School she worked for the Northern States Power Co., where she met a fun-loving lineman named Otto Beilke and they married in 1951. They made their home on a dairy farm near Merrill, WI. Evelyn and Otto were blessed with two children, Robert Leo and Christine Margaret. Evelyn was a true farmer’s wife helping with the chores, gardening, cooking fabulous meals and raising children.

She also worked as a Policy Rater for the Wausau Insurance Company from where she retired. After Otto died in September 1992, Evelyn moved back to her hometown of Galena to be with her family and friends.

Evelyn had two additional loves, oil painting and cats. She re-painted numerous statues and murals at churches in north central Wisconsin and her home, inside and out, was a canvas used to express her artistic talent. She was very proud of the many portraits she painted of people important to her. Believing animals were a gift from God, Evelyn adopted numerous abandoned animals and when she moved to Galena she cared for the last two remaining cats from the family farm for nearly 15 years.
She then opened her heart further and adopted cats from the Safe Haven Humane Society who kept her company in the later years of her life. After a fall in her home in November 2012, Evelyn moved permanently to the Ennoble Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Dubuque.

Evelyn is survived by her son, Robert (Vicki), of Stella; her daughter, Christine, of Madison, WI; one sister, Leona Schweitzer, of Galena, IL; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Otto; four sisters, Lucille Faber, Carrie Spongberg, Viola Reynolds and Grace Havens.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her name can be made to the Safe Haven Humane Society, of Elizabeth, IL, or the Westminster United Presbyterian Church in Galena. Online condolences may be left at www.furlongfuneralchapel.com

Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 1, 2013 at Pilot Knob Cemetery, followed by a remembrance luncheon for family and friends at her home in Galena, IL, immediately after the service. All of Evelyn’s friends are invited to join the family to honor her memory.

The Furlong Funeral Chapel, Galena, is assisting the family.