Helen Lietz, Loyola Medical Researcher, Dies

The following information was supplied by Kelly & Spalding Funeral Home.

Helen W. Lietz, a Deerfield resident who was a Ph.D. in molecular biology who applied her knowledge as a medical researcher at the Loyola University Medical Center research scientist, died Sunday. She was 77.

After spending several years teaching at the high school and college levels, Lietz devoted over 20 years applying her knowledge in the field of medical research and finishing her career as a Research Project Manager for Loyola University Medical Center. She was a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Helen Lorraine Wiles was born on May 2, 1936, to Floyd and Reva Wiles in Flandreau, SD. She was raised with her three sisters on the family farm near Brookings, SD, attending a one-room schoolhouse before graduating from Brookings High School in 1954.

Lietz continued her education throughout her lifetime, receiving a B.S. in chemistry from South Dakota State University in 1958, a M.S. in Chemistry from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1974 and completing her Ph.D. in molecular biology from Loyola University in 1995. She married Dennis E. Lietz in 1959 and together they raised five children. He survives her.

A member of Saint Gregory’s Episcopal Church in Deerfield, Lietz served on the altar guild and vestry as well as in Daughters of the King. She was also a Eucharistic minister volunteering to serve on the Brentwood Nursing Home ministry. She enjoyed sewing and made many prayer quilts that were given to area hospital patients over the years.

Before moving to Deerfield in 1986, Lietz lived for 20 years in Western Springs. There she was a member of All Saints Episcopal Church. She was also a Girl Scout leader and a Cub Scout den mother. She enjoyed camping with her family and square dancing and round dancing with her husband as members of the Highlanders Square Dance Club.

Lietz was the mother of Gregory, Peggy (Owen) Lindauer, Jennifer (David) Wideman, Karen (Paul) Hoelscher and Peter (Rita); cherished grandmother of six and dear sister of Susan (Charles) Brownson. She was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters.

A memorial visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Kelley & Spalding Funeral Home, 1787 Deerfield Rd., Highland Park. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church. Inurnment will be at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church or to the Alzheimer’s Disease Association, 225 N. Michigan Avenue, Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601. For more information please call Kelley & Spalding Funeral Home at (847) 831-4260.