Helfter, John E. "Gene" 1926-2015

HELFTER, COONRADT, CLARK

Posted By: Kermit Kittleson
Date: 1/18/2015 at 09:53:01

ELMA -- John E. "Gene" Helfter, age 88, of Marshalltown, and formerly of Elma, died Friday, Jan. 16, 2015, at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015, at St. Peter's Catholic Church in New Haven with Father Raymond Burkle officiating. Burial will be at St. Peter's Catholic Cemetery in New Haven with military honors at the grave by Osage American Legion Post 278.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at the Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home in Osage where there will be a rosary at 4:30 p.m.

Gene was born July 31, 1926, in Ogden, Utah, the son of John A. and Merna A. (Coonradt) Helfter. He attended Osage High School. Gene served in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

On Jan. 2, 1947, he married Ruth Clark at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Osage. They farmed in the New Haven area from 1947 to 1959, and farmed near Elma from 1959 until their retirement in 1993. They then moved to Parkview. In 2005, Ruth and Gene moved to Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Ruth passed away Feb. 14, 2006. Gene moved to the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown in October 2009. He was a member of the American Legion.

Gene is survived by his five children, Beth Silhanek of Toledo, Mary Cannon-James of Davenport, John (Sherri) Helfter II of Eldridge, Rita (Robert) Arwine of Fairfield, California, Bill (Geri) Helfter of Forest City; 10 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; a sister, Vonnie Fox of Eau Claire, Wisconsin; brother-in-law, Dick Gilmore of Kennewick, Washington; and sister-in-law, Gwen Helfter of Sherrard, Illinois.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Ruth Helfter; grandson, Patrick Helfter; sister, Delores Gilmore; sister and brother-in-law, Ann and Don Clark; brother, Jim Helfter; brother-in-law, Norman Fox; and sons-in-law, Dale Silhanek and Charles James.

Information available and condolences accepted at www.champion-bucheitfuneralhome.com.

Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home, Osage, 641-732-3706.

SOURCE: Mason City Globe Gazette, 18 Jan 2015