GEORGE W. HELLING

MEYER, HELLING, CODY-DWYER, FUERSTE, HANSON, ENGEL

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 2/16/2003 at 11:14:06

GEORGE W. HELLING

Telegraph Herald - Sunday, February 9, 2003

George W. Helling, 84, of Ennoble Manor Care Center, formerly of 269 York St., died at 7:40 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7, 2003, at the care center, surrounded by his family.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Columbkille's Catholic Church. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Key West, Iowa. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. Monday at Siegert-Didesch Colonial Funeral Home, 390 N. Grandview Ave., where there will be the parish wake service at 6:30 p.m.

Mr. Helling was always working. He worked in the city of Dubuque assessor's office for 18 years; Dubuque County Fairgrounds for 36 years, mainly as a bookkeeper and bartender; was part owner and manager of Gem Roller Rink; and owned and operated Meloy and Helling Service Station. He also was known as "Mr. Christmas Tree," as he sold trees with his nephew, Bob Helling, for more than 50 years at Artistic Cleaners.

He was born on March 10, 1918, in Dubuque, son of Anthony and Gertrude (Meyer) Helling. He married Grace C. "Tucker" Cody-Dwyer on Sept. 8, 1951; she passed away on Dec. 17, 1988.

He was a member of St. Columbkille's Catholic Church, where he attended Mass daily, and was a past member of the parish council and past president and member of the Holy Name Society. George was a lifelong and honorary member of the Knights of Columbus. He bowled for the KC for many years and won the State Bowling Tournament in 1956, along with all his brothers. He was an original member of the Board of Directors of the Dubuque Fast Pitch Softball Association and he was honored to receive the Meritorious Service Award from them on June 2, 1989. He also received a service award from the Dubuque County Fair Association. George was a member and past president of the Dubuque Shooting Society-660 Club. He also was a member of the Dubuque Businessmen's Association and the Tri-State Bridge Club.

He loved to play cards with his friends, whom he played cards with for more than 50 years. He loved to ballroom dance with his wife and daughter, Jeanne. He took up country line dancing and belonged to Silver Stompers, All-Star Country Dancers, Country Steppers and Boot Scooters. He really enjoyed dancing.

He was a member of the YMCA, where he enjoyed swimming laps every day. He swam until he was 79 years old. He also was an avid golfer for many years. George loved gardening, especially tending his roses and raspberry patch, and he shared this passion with his daughter, Ann.

He had a lot of zest for life and meeting people was his joy! It seemed like everyone knew George. He enjoyed being with family, friends and especially his grandchildren. And how he loved them! He would wrestle and tackle them on the living room floor and he enjoyed their school programs and sporting events. When his kids were younger, he always had time to play with them and all the kids in the neighborhood.

He was an avid Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears fan. He will be missed by us all.

Surviving are two daughters, Ann Fuerste and Jeanne Helling, and her husband, Jerry Hanson; three grandchildren, Cody, Rebecca and Carter; a very special friend, Lois Walinch; and a sister, Marion Helling, all of Dubuque. It was a dream of Jeanne's to have George meet his birth granddaughter, Lisa Engel, of Sac City, Iowa. George met her for the first time on May 4, 2002. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

He also was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers, Ray, Len, Vic, Joe and Tony; and four sisters, Gertrude, Theresa, Eleanor and Mildred.

In lieu of flowers, a George Helling Memorial Fund has been established.

The family would like to thank Dr. Charles Longo and the Ennoble Manor Care nurses and staff for their wonderful care for Dad. You all were great! Also, a special thank-you goes to Dad's dear friend, Lois Walinch, for always being there for Dad and for her unselfish love and support.