Obituaries

Carl Sandburg's Youngest Daughter Dies at 95

She spent most of her childhood in Elmhurst, according to her obituary in the Blue Ridge Times-News.

Blue Ridge Times-News in Hendersonville, North Carolina, is reporting that Helga Sandburg Crile, the youngest of three daughters of Carl Sandburg, died Sunday in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Her daughter, Paula, lives in Hendersonville.

Helga was born to Sandburg and his wife, Lilian, in 1918. She spent most of her childhood in Elmhurst. She worked for her father, typing his manuscripts, and he dedicated several books to her.

She became a writer in her own right, publishing 17 books and several volumes of poetry, according to the article. 

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Read more about the life of Helga Sandburg Crile here, including an amazingly impassioned description of her by her late husband, Dr. George Crile.

Mrs. Crile is survived by her  children, Dr. John Steichen and Paula Steichen Polega; her step-children, Anne Crile Esselstyn and Susan Crile; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Find out what's happening in Elmhurstwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A memorial service will be held in the spring.

Elmhurst Historical Museum, 120 E. Park Ave., is hosting the exhibit, "Carl Sandburg in Elmhurst through April 20. Museum hours are from 1 to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, and admission is free. 

The next gallery talk on Sandburg, led by curator Lance Tawzer, will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16.

A lecture on Sandburg's life in Elmhurst by exhibit writer and University of Illinois Rare Books and Manuscript Library curator Marten Stromberg will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 6, in the education center. More about the exhibit here.


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