Henry George Helmstetter, age 95, died on Dec. 24, 2012 in Bend, Oregon.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Esther Wittwer Helmstetter, his parents, Carl and Emma Helmstetter, his sister Emily H. Bollinger, and by his brother, Albert C. Helmstetter.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Riley Helmstetter; sons, Richard C. Helmstetter of Carlsbad, Calif., Bill Helmstetter of Piedmont, S.C.; stepdaughter, Eileen Riley of Bend, Ore.; stepsons, Curt Conner of Atlanta, Ga. and Douglas Conner of San Diego, Calif.; six grandchildren; four stepgrandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
He was born in Toledo, Ohio and moved to Wisconsin at an early age. He graduated from Sharon High School and from the University of Wisconsin, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics.
He was a World War II veteran with 3 years service in the Army Air Corps.
Later while living in East Troy, he wrote a weekly sports column under the name of “Gus Phan” covering high school sports.
After the war he spent 30 years working for the U.S. Veterans Administration in Wisconsin, Washington, D.C., Manila, Philippines, and Portland, Ore. before retiring in 1975.
His early years with the USVA were in helping disabled veterans get started in farming; the later years were spent primarily in administration assisting all veterans.
During his career Henry received several awards, the most prestigious being the one given him by President Ferdinand E. Marcos in April 1967 bestowing on him the honorary title of “Batong Buhay” (Eternal Rock) for coordinating the construction of the Corregidor Memorial.
Other awards were the Key to the City of Dumaguete City, the Philippines, and the Distinguished Career award from the director of Veterans Affairs in Washington, D.C.
But the one that probably pleased him the most was the simple Outstanding Soldier award he received while at Truax Field, Wis. in 1943 for organizing his fellow soldiers help harvest field crops for local farmers.
After retiring from the USVA, Henry and his wife settled in Oak Ridge, Tenn., where they enjoyed golf, world travel and attending high school football games. After 27 years they relocated to Surprise, Ariz.
There will be a Christian service of commitment at the cemetery in Paoli, Wis. at the convenience of the family after which there will be a gathering of friends at the Zwingli United Church of Christ in Paoli.
The Becker-Beal Funeral Home of Belleville, Wis. is assisting the family with local arrangements.
An online memorial with guestbook is available at www.bealfuneralhomes.com.
