Corrine E Niedenthal

MCFARLAND-Corrine Elnora Helmke Niedenthal, aged 87, died of ALS on October 2nd, 2016 at Agrace Hospice in Fitchburg, WI. Corrine was born on August 24th, 1929 in Madison, WI. just minutes after her identical twin, Carol, to Dorothy Nelson Helmke and Chester Carl Helmke. She grew up with her three sisters in nearby McFarland, and graduated from Madison East High School with honors in 1947. Corrine attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and earned a Bachelor of Science in Art Education degree with honors in June 1951. From 1951-1955 Corrine taught art at schools in Lake Mills and Racine, and at Madison East Junior High School. In 1954 she won the Grand Prize for her painting "The Crucifixion" in the Wisconsin Salon of Art. On August 13th, 1955, Corrine married Morris Jerome Niedenthal at Bethel Lutheran Church, Madison WI, and joined him at the Chicago Lutheran Theological Seminary in Maywood, IL. where he was completing a Masters of Divinity. She and Morris spent the following year in Manchester, England. Corrine did art metal work at the Regional College of Art and Morris was a Fulbright scholar. From 1957-1960, the Niedenthals lived in Columbia, MO. There, Morris organized the congregation of St. Andrew's Lutheran Church. Corrine's son Simon was born on November 22nd, 1958, and her daughter Paula was born on April 14th, 1960. When Morris accepted a call to teach preaching at the Chicago Lutheran Theological Seminary in 1960, the family moved to Maywood, IL. They lived in New York City from 1963-'65 during which time Corrine worked on commissioned art projects, and Morris completed doctoral coursework at Union Theological Seminary. In August of 1967, Corrine and Morris moved to the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. Corrine took a position at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, and taught 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades for 26 years until her retirement in 1994. Morris died in 2008. Corrine moved into Skaalen Village in her hometown of McFarland in 2013. She became deeply involved with the McFarland Historical Society and the McFarland Lutheran Church, and delighted in her friends and many nearby family members.  Corrine is survived by a son Simon (Tina-Marie Whitman) and daughter Paula (Markus Brauer), and six grandchildren: Camilla and Adrian Niedenthal and Alex, Théo, Sebastian and Benjamin Brauer. She is also survived by her sister Audrey Helmke Endres, and a number of very dear nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her mother Dorothy Helmke, her father Chester Helmke, and two sisters: her twin Crystal Carol Lokken, and Delores Fisher. A memorial service will be held for Corrine at McFarland Lutheran Church at 11.00 AM on Saturday November 5th. Visitation with family and friends will begin at 10:00 AM. Donations may be made in Corrine's memory to the McFarland Lutheran Church and McFarland Historical Society. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive (608)221-5420