Edward S. Helfrich

Edward Stephen Helfrich, 63, died at home at 10:40 a.m. on August 31 surrounded by his family. Ed was born December 26, 1944 in Evansville, Indiana. As we get ourselves and each other through this difficult transition, foremost in our minds will be the amazing man we all knew and truly loved, and the good fortune that brought him into our lives. He taught us to work to make the world a better place for others, to smile while doing it, to never give up, and that there is no such thing as an inappropriate time for a joke. Ed lived a life that was much more about others than himself. He was an active and vital member of the West Side Nut Club for 20 years and also gave freely of his time to other organizations including the Wabash Avenue Flag Foundation, the Lamasco Neighborhood Association, and ECHO Community Health Care. Ed was a veteran of Vietnam, serving in the Navy with honorable discharge in 1972. He was a lifetime member of the VFW 1114. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Evansville. After working as a salesman at Diamond Foods, and a kitchen installer at Weber Equipment, Ed found his working home in the Electrical Department at the west side Lowe’s. He will certainly be missed there by his Lowe’s family of peers and patrons. Ed was preceded in death by his father, Michael W. Helfrich. His surviving family members, include his mother, Annabelle Goedde Helfrich, Evansville, IN; his wife of twenty five years, Linda F. (Dyehouse) Helfrich, and their children, Lorena M. Havill, San Antonio, TX, Julie Havill-Weems and her husband Steve, Bloomington, IN, and Victor W. Havill, and his wife Akiko, Evansville, IN; his brother Mike Helfrich of Carterville, IL, and his sisters, Cary (Helfrich) Feherenbacher of Evansville, IN and Mary (Helfrich) Rogers of Indianapolis, IN. Ed was blessed with two gorgeous grandsons, Renan Victor Havill and Liam Stephen Havill-Weems, who gave Ed much joy. Ed is also survived by nieces and nephews Mike, Tracy, Danny, Greg, Sarah, Katie, Eric, Kammy, Mark, and Sarah. Visitation will be from 2:00 p.m to 7:00 p.m.on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2008, at Pierre Funeral Home, 2601 W. Franklin St., with a memorial service at 7:00 p.m., Sister Jenny Miller officiating. At a later date, a Memorial Mass will be offered at St. Boniface Church with internment at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery. We encourage donations in Ed’s honor to two organizations that were, in particular, very important to him, ECHO Community Health Care and the West Side Nut Club Foundation. Also, we wish to thank Dr. Mark Browning, Dr. Scott Uloth and Nancy with Deaconess Hospice for their outstanding care. Family and friends unable to attend may leave condolences online at www.pierrefuneralhome.com

Edward S. Helfrich

December 26, 1944 - August 31, 2008