Obit: Helm, Eldon Louis #2 (1939 - 2011)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Helm, Garbisch, Fenske, Schmidt, Wysocky, Backaus, Van Elzen, Gill, Rasmussen, Schwanz, Schuessow

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) November 16, 2011

Helm, Eldon Louis (29 October 1939 - 8 November 2011)

Eldon L. Helm, 72, of Granton died Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011, at the Memorial Medical Center in Neillsville.

Eldon Louis Helm was born Oct. 29, 1939, in Neillsville, the son of Louis and Adelia (Garbisch) Helm.  He attended and graduated from Granton High School and then farmed his entire life on the home farm.  He was united in marriage to Doreen Fenske-Schmidt Oct. 5, 1985, in Granton.  In 1991, Eldon sold his cows but continued to farm his crops.

He was a member of the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Granton, a life-time member of the Southern Clark County Sportsman’s Club and the Granton FFA Alumni, a charter and lifetime member of the Foundation of North American Wild Sheep (FNAWS) and a member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation.

He enjoyed hunting and sharing his knowledge of hunting with others.  He loved farming his land, which included growing and sharing his sweet corn.  Eldon was a giving and devoted gentleman who was a friend to everyone he met and would always lend a hand at a moment’s notice.

Eldon is survived by his wife, Doreen; two children, Brian Helm of Eden Prairie, MN, and Suzette (Chuck) Wysocky of Altoona; two step sons, Tony (Rose) Schmidt of Sarasota, FL, and Todd (Deb) Schmidt of Wauwatosa; and a step-son-in-law, Eric Backaus of Neillsville.  Eldon is also survived by 11 grandchildren; two great-granddaughters; his mother-in-law, Idora Fenske of Marshfield; one brother, Roland (Bev) Helm of Cedarburg; four sisters-in-law, Elda Helm of Portage, MI, Bev Helm of Chili, Judy (Tom) Van Elzen of Appleton and Linda Fenske of Marshfield; special family friend, Jan Rasmussen; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a step-daughter, Tammy Backaus; and two brothers, Walter and Norman.

Funeral services for Eldon were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, at the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Granton.  Pastors Chris Schwanz and Dan Schuessow officiated, with music provided by Caroline Helm, organist.  Interment was in the Town of Lynn Cemetery.  Visitation was held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at the Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville and from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, at the church.

Casketbearers were Ryan Gill, Tim Wysocky, Greg Wysocky, Sterling Backaus, Bryce Backaus and Kyle Schmidt.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Zion Lutheran Church Housing Maintenance Fund or The Highground at Neillsville.  Online condolences may be made at: www.geschefh.com.

The Gesche Funeral Home assisted Eldon’s family with funeral arrangements.