A former longtime Galesburg math teacher known for her delightful, witty and feisty personalty and her ability to command the classroom has died.
Helen Dunn, who taught algebra and geometry at Galesburg High School from 1951-1981, died Tuesday at Seminary Manor Nursing Home in Galesburg. She had celebrated her 100th birthday on April 5.
She started her 36-year teaching career as a math teacher in Kirkwood.
Former colleagues remember Dunn has the consummate teacher.
“Helen was a delightful person and a great teacher,” said Chris Fulton, who taught in the same GHS math department with Dunn in 1975-76. “The kids loved her. She was always thinking about how she could help them. And she could command a classroom.
“She was just a really fun person. And a delight to be around.”
Obituary: Helen Frances (Young) Dunn — April 5, 1924 ~ April 23, 2024
John Kessler had Dunn as a math teacher at the former high school in 1959 before becoming a fellow teacher with her in the math department at GHS.
“Everybody liked her,” Kessler said. “She had a great sense of humor. She was a very good teacher.”
Helen Frances Young was born April 5, 1924, in Monmouth, the daughter of Asa Wallace and Laverne Marcia (Parker) Young. She graduated from Monmouth High Schoo and received her bachelor’s degree from Monmouth College. She later earned her master’s degree from Western Illinois University.
Her obituary says she served in the US Navy during World War II.
She married William “Ray” Dunn on Aug. 7, 1955, and together they shared 49 years before his passing on Jan. 22, 2004.
Ann Pennington, who taught language arts at GHS from 1974-2007, said she quickly bonded with Dunn, noting Dunn was one of many role models she admired during her early days of teaching.
“I was a newbie and ate lunch with the math department, of which Helen was apart of,” Pennington said. “ Helen and I kept a low profile in that group and just kind of took it all in.
“She was a witty person with a good sense of humor. You knew her presence was there — you knew when Helen was around. Sarcastic. A little feisty.”
Pennington added, “I definitely came in during the golden age of teaching. There were so many mentors. You couldn’t help but catch their professionalism.”
Juley Douglass Allee, GHS Class of 1981, had Dunn for geometry and says she was one of her favorite teachers.
“I was a talker,” Allee recalled. “I was sitting there in the front row chatting on and on, and the rest of the class was too, and then it gradually got quieter and quieter and I noticed I was the only one still talking. I looked up at her, and embarrassed said, ‘I’m done.’
“She said, ‘no, I’m Dunn.’ We all roared with laughter. She was a great teacher.”
Helen and Ray Dunn were members of Lake Bracken County Club where they were avid golfers.
According to Mary Burgland, Helen Dunn was instrumental in the formation of the Bixby Cup women’s golf challenge — a team competition between Bunker Links and Lake Bracken and Soangetaha country clubs.
“Helen was a tremendous golfer,” Burgland said. “She was a funny gal and there was always a lot of joking around when you played golf with her. It was serious, but it was fun.”
From 1972-75, Burgland taught with Dunn in the GHS math department.
“Helen was an excellent teacher,” Burgland said. “She was no-nonsense in the classroom, but loved by her students. And she was well-loved and respected by her peers.”
Visitation for Helen Frances Dunn will be 12:30 to 2 p.m. Saturday at Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Directors and Cremation Services Galesburg Chapel. Services will follow at 2 p.m. at the chapel.
