James Walter Helmke of Plymouth, WI, completed his journey of life on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Jim was born in Dodgeville, WI on October 7, 1933, the oldest of five children born to Walter and
Mathilda (Bunzel) Helmke. He was a graduate of St. John the Baptist Catholic Grade School and
Plymouth High School class of 1951.
On December 26, 1953, he and Jillene Holfeltz were married at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in
Plymouth. Jim and Jill were blessed with three sons and one daughter. Jim spent his working career in
the Tele-Communication Industry in Wisconsin and Illinois.
He is survived by son, Mark (Carol) Helmke of Lancaster, WI, and their family: David (Tiffany) Helmke
and children Adaline and Jack of Lancaster, WI, and Nicole (Nicholas Turner) Helmke, of Hillsborough,
NC, and their daughter Ava; son Michael (Ann) Helmke of Sheboygan, WI and his children Amber (Ryan
Lehmann) Helmke and her children Landyn and Jacob, of Sheboygan, WI, and Christopher (Paul Nowak)
Helmke of Madison, WI; son James (Mari) Helmke of Watertown, WI and their family, Steven (Anne
Dahlie) Helmke and his children, Andrew, Alexander, and Anthony of Watertown, WI , Stacy (Matthew )
Brault of Green Bay, WI, and Christopher (Christine Hanna) DeBus of Cheswick, PA and his daughters
Jaeden and Kamryn of Albia, IA; a son-in-law Douglas Allds of Pardeeville, WI, and his daughter, Breanna
(Ryan) Dziubla and their children Abigail and Caleb of Deforest, WI; brother, William (Laurie) Helmke of
Plymouth, WI; a brother-in-law David Hartman of Plymouth, WI; a sister-in-law Patricia Holfeltz of West
Bend, WI; a granddaughter-in-law, Dana DeBus of Albia, IA; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
Jim is now united with his wife of 68 years, Jillene, his parents, daughter, Kim Marie Allds, brothers, John
and Robert Helmke, his sister, Bonnie Hartman, his father and mother-in-law, Raymond and MaeBelle
Holfeltz, brother-in-law, John Holfeltz, and sisters-in-law, Barbara Helmke and Connie Holfeltz.
Visitation will be held on Friday, January 3, 2025 at the Suchon Funeral Home in Plymouth from 10:00
AM-12:00 PM; with a prayer service to follow at 12:00 PM. Father Philip Reifenberg will officiate.
Inurnment will be in St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund is being established in Jim’s name.
The Suchon Funeral Home is assisting the family. For online condolences, please visit
www.suchonfh.com.
The family would like to send a special thanks to Allay Hospice for all their kind, compassionate, and
attentive service to Jim and their family.
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