Harriet E. Harris

Harriet Ellen Winkel “Wink” Harris, age 105, passed away at 10:51 PM, on Tuesday, June 16, 2016, at her home.

She was born on January 18, 1921 at Pekin Hospital, a daughter of Edward Oscar and Elsie Jane Herr Winkel. She married Walter (Buss) Harris at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on September 4, 1947. He preceded her in death on February 12, 1996.

Also proceeding her in death were her parents, and a sister, Joyce, Warner.

Surviving is: two nieces, Joanne (Randy) Drury and Patricia Friedrich, both of Pekin; three great-nephews, Seth Friedrich of Pekin, A.J. Friedrich of Florida, and Clint Drury of Edwards; seven great- nieces and nephews.

Harriet was the last surviving family member of the family who owned and operated the N. Reuling Co. department store in downtown Pekin for 125 years, and she and her father together worked there for a total of that many years. Her great aunt married into the Reuling family in the late 1800s and gradually Harriet and her father purchased the business which closed in 1995.

Harriet was a lifelong member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. She had been Treasure for 45 years, and a member of The Guilds, and served several terms on the vestry. After her retirement from the store, she was instrumental in restoring and maintaining the landscaping and gardens at the church and spent many hours there working to improve and beautify the grounds. She was also a member of the YWCA, Y Reserves, and Silver Sneakers, a volunteer at Pekin Hospital for many years, and a former member of the Dirksen Guild and Pekin Country Club. Her interests included gardening, bridge, knitting, and being in charge of the majority of the many reunions for her PCHS class of 1938.

When she turned 100 in 2021, she was asked to participate in a study of centenarians conducted by the Boston University medical campus. They are part of the New England Centenarian Study funded by the National Institution of Aging in trying to determine why some people are more resistant to Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of dementia. In 2023, as the selected representative from Illinois, she was one of four people across the nation who were selected to be featured in an article for the AARP on this subject.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM Monday, June 22, 2026 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 251 Buena Vista, with Rev. Jonathan M. Butcher officiating. Visitation an hour prior to the service. Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery. Henderson Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Endowment Fund or the St. Paul’s Garden Fund.