Mr. Brent Lee Helmkamp

Brent was born October 27, 1967, at Trinity Regional Hospital in Fort Dodge, Iowa. The son of John and Theresa (Coulter) Helmkamp, Brent grew up in Coalville and graduated from Fort Dodge Senior High School in 1986. He was a three-time Iowa High School State Wrestling Tournament qualifier and a state champion his senior year. Brent received his bachelor's degree in English from Drake University in 1991. While at Drake, he was a NCAA Wrestling Championship national qualifier. In 2012, he was inducted into the Fort Dodge Hall of Fame. Brent began teaching English and coaching wrestling and football at Woodward Granger High School in 1991. He later transferred to Ames High School in 1998 to coordinate their Alternative Learning Program, where he stayed for the remainder of his career. He coached wrestling at Ames High School until 2002, when he resigned from coaching to spend more time with his family. Brent met the love of his life, Sherry Pederson, in 7th grade at South Junior High; they married on June 8, 1991, at Badger Lutheran Church. They began their married life together in Urbandale before moving to Ankeny in 1999. They were blessed with the births of their sons Alec in 1998 and Jackson in 2003. Brent's passions included wrestling, teaching, mentoring students, and coaching youth wrestling, football, baseball and soccer. He was an active member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. He loved following the Chicago Cubs, Iowa Hawkeyes and Minnesota Vikings. Brent lived life to the fullest with an optimistic attitude and always saw the good in others. More than anything, Brent valued and loved his family and friends. Brent is survived by his wife of 23 years, Sherry; his sons, Alec (16) and Jackson (10); his parents, John and Theresa of Ankeny; his sisters, Brooke (Jason) Moore of Ankeny and Brandi Helmkamp of Ankeny; his father-in-law, Richard Pederson (Barb Miller) of Badger; his brother-in-law, Mike Pederson of Mason City; his nieces, Ella Moore, Alexys Pederson, Olivia Pederson; his nephew, Ben Pederson; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Brent was preceded in death by his grandparents, Jerry and Pauline Coulter, and Mildred and Carl Helmkamp; his mother-in-law, Lucy Pederson; and Sherry's infant brother, Terry Pederson. Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 1, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 517 SW Des Moines St., Ankeny, Iowa. Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 2, at 10:30 a.m., also at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials will be directed to various clubs dear to Brent.