John Joseph Helms' Obituary
John “Jack” Helms passed away on Sunday, May 6 at home surrounded by loved ones. He was born on June 16, 1924 to John Francis Helms and Ellen Bridget Helms and grew up in Buffalo, New York.As a youth, he was an accomplished boxer and enjoyed playing baseball. He served in the Army during WW II in Okinawa and Korea. After returning from the war he married Mary Bechtloff in 1948 and they were married for 50 years. Jack graduated from The University of Buffalo in 1951. He spent most of his career rising through the ranks of the Ralston Purina corporation where he became the plant manager of one of their largest operations. He retired and moved to Ft. Myers in 1973 where he remained active playing golf and racquetball. He and Patricia Gallant were married in 2002.He is survived by his wife, Patricia Helms, daughters Judith Cahill (James), Janet Duffy (Brian), Jacquelyn Streets (Vic Hein), son-in-law John Schwartz, grandchildren Curtis Cahill, Shaun Duffy, Shannon Duffy Payne (Thomas), Samantha Schwartz, Cole Streets (Erica), and Jack Streets (Kathy), and great grandchildren Scarlett, Audrey, and Nolan Payne, and Sunny Streets.He was preceded in death by his wife Mary Helms, daughter Joan Schwartz, granddaughter Courtney Cahill, and grandson Nash Streets.Jack was a man that liked to be the life of the party. The first thing that you noticed about him was his Paul Newman blue eyes and how they danced when he spoke and laughed. Jack was a life-long lover of many sports. He once had a single-digit handicap in golf and was a regular at the racquetball court. He enjoyed watching golf and professional football on TV and his favorite team was the Green Bay Packers. During his career he had lived in Wisconsin and enjoyed season tickets at Lambeau Field. Jack loved being a grandpa and great grandpa! We will miss his wonderful sense of humor and those blue eyes!A Mass of Christian Burial for John will be celebrated by Father Stanley J. Dombrowski at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at Saint Cecilia’s Catholic Church, 5632 Sunrise Drive, Fort Myers, Florida 33919, (239) 936-3635. Following conclusion of the liturgy, family and friends will travel to Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 1589 Colonial Boulevard, Fort Myers, Florida 33907, (239) 936-0555 where John will receive Military Honors provided by the United States Army. He will thereafter be laid to rest at the Mausoleum located inside the Garden of the Good Shepherd.To share a story or photo, leave a tribute or to offer condolences to the family at this difficult time please visit John’s memorial webpage at www.fortmyersmemorial.com and sign his guestbook.
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