Gary Helgerson

Gary Herman Helgerson, 72, of Elkader, died Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019, at Patty Elwood Center, Country Winds Manor in Cresco following a brief illness due to dementia. He was born August 28, 1946, in West Union, to Herman and Marian (Schatz) Helgerson.

Gary graduated from Valley High School in 1964. He went on to UNI at Cedar Falls, where he earned his Industrial Arts – Education Degree, graduate in 1968, later he attended Central Missouri State where he earned his Master’s Degree in 1970.  Gary went on to teach Industrial Arts and Drivers Ed at Tripoli High School for 10 years, before moving to Elkader to become a State Farm Insurance Agent, a position held for 39 years until he retired in 2017.

He married Kae Jeanne Thompson. Three sons were born to this union. They later divorced.

He was an avid hunter, fisherman, and outdoorsman.  He loved woodworking crafts. He earned a black belt in Taekwondo and completed Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth, MN. He also loved watching John Wayne and Clint Eastwood westerns as well as attending Moto Guzzi Motorcycle Rallies. Gary was an instructor for Boy Scouts and Hunting Education. He served on the Conservation Board at Osborne for a number of years and was a founding member of the Clayton County Archers. Gary was past president of the Iowa Bow Hunters Association.

Survivors include his sons, Erik (Janelle) Helgerson of Lansing; Joel Helgerson and Ryan Helgerson of Eagle River, AK; four grandchildren, Nathan, Madelyn, Caleb and Kara Helgerson; brother, Randy Helgerson of Elgin; sister, Dorothy (Larry) Reiling of Hawkeye; a niece, Brenda, and nephew, Brian and many friends.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established.

Visitation: 4 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2019, at Leonard-Grau Funeral Home in Elkader and after 10 a.m. on Wednesday at the church.

Memorial Service: 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019, at Elgin Lutheran Church, Elgin

Inurnment: Elgin Lutheran Cemetery, Elgin.

Leonard-Grau Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Elkader is assisting the family. Online condolences may be left with www.graufuneralhomes.com