After a long and blessed life, Artha L. Chamberlain, 97, of Urbana, died on Thursday February 18, 2016 at Champaign County Nursing Home. Her family extends their heartfelt thanks to the caring and professional staff there who treated her with utmost compassion and support.

Born to Frank Littel and Emma Kuoni Littel on August 20, 1918, Artha was raised in the river town of Sauk City, Wisconsin where she enjoyed an idyllic childhood of small town America in the 1920's. She learned to swim from regional author August Derleth, spent afternoons with her older sister Dorothy and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Lloyd Wright enjoying foreign films and cookies at Taliesin, and worked as a soda jerk in the local drugstore where she once served hamburgers to Cab Calloway and his band.

She received her B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and enlisted in the WAVES shortly after WWII began. She was stationed in Washington D.C. and worked in Naval Intelligence until the end of the war. In 1945, she married Don Chamberlain and they moved to Urbana where she received her M.A. from the University of Illinois. She spent most of her career in the Dept. of Aero and Astro Engineering as the Undergraduate Writing Program Director, Publications Counselor and Alumni Liaison.

Artha and her husband Don (who passed away in 1997) enjoyed 52 rich years of marriage and shared many interests including Krannert performances, Stardusters dances, U of I football games, and travel. She was an avid sports fan including golf, football and basketball. While she was a loyal Illini fan, her first loyalty was to her UW Badgers -as evidenced by that red Wisconsin baseball cap and Badger earmuffs she wore everywhere. She was active in the community and at St. Patrick's Church. She was an Ebertfest groupie from its inception and shared many Ebertfests with her daughters and friends.

A talented and prolific writer, Artha was probably best known for her well-loved annual Christmas letter. Not your typical Christmas letter, she shared her take on anything from politics to Lady GaGa. Her letters made you laugh, made you cry and made you feel better about the world and humanity.

Artha shared many adventures with her two older sisters, Dorothy Mueller and Pauline Nickel, who proceeded her in death after living long and full lives.

She is survived by her children Frank Chamberlain, Ellen (Charlie) Warmbrunn, Beth (Bill) Welbes, three grandchildren Matt Call, Sam Call, Jacob Welbes, nephews John Nickel and David LeResche, nieces Kathy Englander and Mary Nell Marten, and many wonderful great nieces and nephews.

A memorial mass to celebrate her life will be held at St. Patrick's Church in Urbana on Saturday February 27, 2016 at 10:00am. Visitation will be in the foyer of the church one hour before the service. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Patrick's Catholic Church Education Fund.