GAIL HELLE envisioned his parents at the time of his birth saying: "George looked at Mom and said, "Mom, we have reached perfection, no more boys". Mom looked at me and said, "Pop, (she always called him Pop) please, no more boys! They get worse with each one and, my God, look what we got here" That is why they never had any more boys. They got a couple of girls after that "cause Mom wanted some dishwashers, but I think we boys did our share of dishes anyway. When I was in the seventh grade I found the cutest little dark eyed, dark-haired girl I ever saw. She was in the sixth grade. I fell madly in love right then and that was the beginning of the greatest romance of all-time. All I could do was give sickening lovesick looks; I did not dare speak to her. When I was a sophomore in high school and she a freshman I finally asked her for a date and she said yes! My dreams came true and we never looked any further. By combining our high and low notes we have made a beautiful song. Our rewards have been many, the greatest being three beautiful daughters, a great son and sons-in-law, a lovely daughter-in-law and beautiful healthy grandchildren, friends galore; so what man could ask for more? Our cup run neth over. The good Lord has blessed my whole life with good parents, brothers and sisters. My in-law have been dear and treasured friends. Through my own dear family I'm blessed and I thank the Lord every day for the many blessings He has sent my way."

Excerpt from "Memories of my Life," by Walter Helle: "As I grew older, I discovered that us children were sent off fishing so we would be out of the house while a new baby was being born. My brother Verle and I were the skinny ones in the family, and when he was three we were sent down to Grandma's on June 22, 1920. We were told to stay there and eat mulberries to fatten us up. Our older brother, Lloyd, came after us on June 23 and when we returned home, sure enough, we had another brother born who was named Gail. Mom had run out of boys names by now, and Gail was the last boy born into our family."

Charlotte wrote about her brother:
Gail, who was 18 months older than I and I were very close. We went to high school together. Gail was always gentle and loving.

Gail grew to manhood in Wyoming Illinois, where he assisted his father in the hardwood lumber business. He graduated from Wyoming High School in1938 and in 1939 he married his high school sweetheart, after her graduation. They became the parents of two daughters before he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1944. He served in the States until his discharge in Nov. 1945. He reentered the family lumber business at Oregon, IL, later Savanna, IL and was at Monticello, Iowa when he passed away in 1982. During the years 1950-1965 he was employed by Midwest Transfer of Chicago, IL. His happiest years in his work were probably as manager of the Monticello Wood Products, 1971-1977 and his own company, Tri-State Pallet 1977-1979 at Monticello with his wife and son. In the1970's Gail enjoyed "Scouting" when his son was in Boy Scouts.
Primarily, Gail was very family oriented and delighted in his children and grandchildren. As a child, Gail attended Sinnett Chapel n. w. of Cuba, IL and later the Congregational Church of Wyoming, Illinois. In his last days he expressed a desire to become of the Catholic religion, the religion of his grandparents, wife and children. His wife writes that Gail thought all of their children were to be girls and he loved each and every one of his daughters deeply. However, when his son arrived ten years after the last daughter, he must have been quite moved. Besides always enjoying his work in the lumber and pallet business, the evenings Gail spent with his brothers and families the last five months of his life were memorable to him.

 (Sharon Bearce)