Helen Dunn

Picha Funeral Home, Locally Owned and Operated

Providing Friendly, Courteous and Dignified Funeral Service

Helen Dunn, age 85 of Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin died Sunday, December 23, 2007 at St. Clare Hospital in Baraboo, Wisconsin due to unforeseen circumstances.

A Celebration of Life service will be held Wednesday, January 2, 2008 at 3:00 P.M. at Holy Cross Episcopal Church in Wisconsin Dells with Reverend Joan Smoke and Reverend Robert Coval co-celebrating. Visitation will be held at the Picha Funeral Home in Lake Delton, Wisconsin on Tuesday, January 1, 2008 from 4:00 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. with an Eastern Star Service at 5:00 P.M. and on Wednesday at Holy Cross Episcopal Church from 2:00 P.M. until time of service at 3:00 P.M.

Helen was born May 6, 1922 in Chicago, Illinois the daughter of William and Lottie (Bambeva) Pawlowski. Helen was a life-long member of the Order of Eastern Star. She belonged to the Kilbourn Chapter #120 and was appointed Grand Representative of Indiana. She was a past member of The Shrinettes and B.P.O.E.-Does in Hollywood, Florida. The vivacious Helen taught dance at the famous Arthur Murray Dance Studios in Chicago. She met William (Robert) Dunn of Baraboo, Wisconsin while they both worked for Bell Telephone in Chicago. Both saved their pocket change in a big jar and after little more than a year, they had enough money saved to purchase land in Lake Delton from Arnold and Catherine Borcher (they tried valiantly to save the tepee that was on the land they bought). Helen and Bill were among Lake Delton -Wisconsin Dells area’s first business people beginning with a Sinclair gas station and a 3 unit motel that eventually grew into 31 units with the area’s first kiddie pool. Somewhere down the line she acquired the famous “Bull”. The Bull (Eltoro) enjoyed several different colors finally settling on red. The “Red Bull” was a local landmark for many years. In the early years, to make money in “the off-season” she sold everything from bread to bibles door to door all over the U.S.  Eventually discovering the Sunshine State she established a winter home in Hollandale, FL. near the famous Gulfstream Race Track. She also ran the Spring Hill Motel in Wisconsin Dells and the Twi-Lite Motel in Lake Delton. Helen was an energetic, hard working survivor who loved people. She was always the life of the party and so her final wish was to be remembered that way…laughing, dancing and loving life. . Following the service there will be one last big bang for Helen at the establishment she loved so very much, now Mark’s Restaurant at the Country Squire Inn in Lake Delton.

Helen is survived by her daughter, Candace (Tom) Reeder and their children ,Sean and Sydney of Wisconsin Dells; sisters, Lorraine (Steve) Pestka of Mesa, Az. and Sandra (Tom) Lynch of Orland Park, IL; long time friends, Jean Dorenbos of Lake Delton and Gold Canyon, Arizona and Betty Crum of Wisconsin Dells as well as many others. Helen will be dearly missed by all.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Delores (Pawlowski) Grabo and her special friend of 22 years, Robert A. Mael of Portage.

Donations may be made in Helen’s name to The Shriners Crippled Children Fund or St. Jude Children’s Hospital.