Gerry and Jan Helmkamp are reunited, and we take comfort in knowing they are walking together again in a very happy place. They were married on June 24, 1950 and lived a fulfilling life of love and laughter that has left us great and plentiful memories to cherish.
After a stint in the US Navy as an Aviation Radioman (Gunner) trained in TBMs (Torpedo Bombers) Gerry joined International Harvester Truck at the Heavy-Duty Truck Plant in Fort Wayne, Indiana and began his career there manually mounting truck tires on the assembly line. He progressed at International through positions of greater responsibility until he ended his career some 36 years later within Management as the Assembly Line Scheduler for the Springfield, Ohio Light and Medium Duty Truck Plant. Gerry met "Janie", a telephone operator in Auburn, Indiana, while on a double date with other returning veterans after the war. They soon began their 68 years of marriage in Avilla, Indiana where Jan managed their households in Avilla, Ft. Wayne, Springfield, OH, Venice, FL and St. Petersburg, FL. Gerry and Jan's cherished life priority was their family and the two were inseparable until Jan's death in January of 2018. We were deeply fortunate to be their family but are grateful they are together again.
Beloved parents of Greg (Sandy) Helmkamp and Captain Mark (Kathie) Helmkamp USN (Ret.); cherished grandparents of Travis (Michelle) Helmkamp, Taylor (Ryan) Dougherty, Trenton (Brittany) Helmkamp, Brandon Helmkamp, Connor (Haley) Helmkamp, and Brooke Helmkamp; and loving great-grandparents of Kingsley, Emerson, and Raleigh Dougherty, Aubrey Malace, Delaini, Harper, and Hudson (due December 2022) Helmkamp.
Visitation is on Tuesday, November 15, 2022, beginning at 5:00PM until a 7:00PM Memorial Service, both at Mueller Funeral Home, 6791 Tylersville Road, Mason, Ohio 45040. Gerry and Jan will be put to rest together with Military Honors at 10:00AM the following day at the Dayton National Cemetery located in Dayton, Ohio.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations in their memory to the Alzheimer's Association or to the Wounded Warrior Project.
Mueller Funeral Home
Mueller Funeral Home
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