Adele M. Helmle

Adele M. Helmle, age 83, passed away Sunday May 5, 2024. Adele was born in Cokato, MN on July 14, 1940, daughter of the late Carl and Margery (nee: Hansen) Peterson.

On June 3, 1962 in Cokato, MN, Adele was united in marriage to Carl W. Helmle. They raised two children, Katherine and John and shared forty-two beautiful years together before Carl passed away in 2004. Adele graduated from UW-Stout in 1962 with a degree in Education and later earned her Master’s degree in 1983. She was employed with the Racine Unified School District for more than thirty years enriching countless young minds at Starbuck Jr. High School and JI Case High School as a teacher of Home Economics. Adele married a pilot and was emersed in the world of aviation, she was a lifetime member of the Experimental Aircraft Association and EAA’s Chapter 838 in Racine, Adele and Carl founded the Aviation Exploration Base in Oshkosh serving hundreds of teenagers each summer giving them safe and quality experiences in aviation. A community activist, Adele was an active volunteer with her church, Lutheran Church of the Resurrection and also volunteered with the Friendship House and HALO in Racine. In her spare time, she enjoyed, gardening, swimming and travelling. Above all, she will be remembered for her great love and dedication to her family.

Adele will be dearly missed by her children, Katherine (Brian) Clark, and John (Maty) Helmle; grandchildren, Keira, Dalton and David; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. In addition to her parents and husband, Adele was also preceded in death by her brother, Kent Peterson.

Visitation will be held at the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection (322 Ohio Street, Racine, WI 53405) on Saturday May 11, 2024 from 3:00 p.m. until time of service at 4:00 p.m. A reception Celebrating Adele’s Life will follow at the EAA Chapter Building at the Racine Batton Field Airport (3333 N. Green Bay Road, Racine, WI 53404). Interment at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery will be held at a later date. Memorials to the Aviation Exploration Base have been suggested.