Photo courtesy of Tuschen-Newcomer Funeral Home
Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
Darrell D. Helmke, age 67, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 at St. Mary's Hospital in Madison. He was born on January 8, 1950 in Madison and was the son of Ernest and Marcella "Sally" (Klubertanz) Helmke. He married Beatrice Knapton on Sept. 9, 1978. Darrell worked at Uncle Milty's Pizza and Hanley's in Sun Prairie, Derlein Scale Service in Madison, and then worked for Production Enterprise in Marshall for 42 years, retiring in 2015. He enjoyed hunting in Briggsville, playing cards, NASCAR racing, and the "roar of the mighty midgets" at Angell Park in Sun Prairie. He was a very friendly guy with a wave and a hello to everyone he met. He is survived by his wife Beatrice; brothers, Ronald (Joan) Helmke, Donald (Joyce) Gmeinder, Robert (Joan) Gmeinder; a sister, Janice (John) Culbertson; sisters-in-law, Janice Gmeinder and Hazel Benisch all of Sun Prairie, Janette (Rodney) Latham of Mt Horeb and Donna (Bill) Petrie of Madison; nephews, Tony (Mara) Helmke of Verona, Mike (Susan) Culbertson and Tom (Lori) Culbertson of Sun Prairie, nieces, Connie (David) Sobczak of Sun Prairie, Karen (Matt) Cornwell of DeForest, Susan (Ron) Marsden of Oregon, Christine Hahn of Wauwatosa, and Janel Gmeinder of Madison. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother Ralph Gmeinder. A Celebration of His Life will be held on Tuesday February 14, 2017 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Tuschen-Newcomer Funeral Home, 302 Columbus St. in Sun Prairie. A luncheon will follow at the V.F.W. Post #9362, 349 S. Walker Way, Sun Prairie. The family would like to thank the ICU staff at St. Mary's Hospital for their kind care, especially Nurse Susan. Tuschen-Newcomer Funeral Home Sun Prairie, WI 608-837-5400 www.newcomerfh.com
Bea,
I'm so sorry I did not know about this until this morning. My deepest condolences to you my prayers are with you. Darrell will be missed by many he touched a lot of peoples hearts.
Ed Gawlik
February 24, 2017 | Apple Valley, MN | Friend
Bea and Family,
We send our sincere condolences and sympathy. I remember the times as a young boy seeing Darrell, Janice and Ron when my parents got together with their parents to play sheepshead in Sun Prairie. Those were good family times and are precious memories. Love and prayers.
Rollie and Judy Hackbart
February 15, 2017 | Buffalo Grove, IL | Family
We can picture him cooking two large steaks on his charcoal grill in the driveway. He smiled and waved every time we saw each other.
Lucas and Amber Sergenian
February 14, 2017 | Sun Prairie, WI | Neighbor
Bea and family. We have you all in our thoughts and prayers. Still having a hard time believing Darrell is gone. So thankful we got to be with you that Saturday night even though Darrell wasn't doing well. We sure are going to miss him. Will celebrate his life today in Yuma. Poor guy sure didn't get much of a chance for retirement. No more pain and problems for him to deal with. Love U!!!!
Dick and Bonnie Jirik
February 14, 2017 | Marshall, WI | Friend
My condolence to Darrell's family. I know Darrell through my good friend and coworker Ron Helmke. My best wishes to his family and friends.
Wayne Hammen
February 14, 2017 | DeForest, WI | Acquaintance
A SUPER NICE GUY. ALWAYS NICE TO EVERYBODY. SO VERY SORRY BEA. LOVE AND HUGS TO YOU.
JIM AND BRENDA DUSHACK
February 12, 2017 | Friend
He will be missed by so many. R.I.P.
Candy Meylor
February 11, 2017 | Sun Prairie, WI | Friend
Some of my most memorably memories of Darrell was watching and playing cards with him, he always had something funny say after every hand. He would crack me up. I'll miss him.
stan peschl
February 11, 2017 | Waterloo, WI | Friend
RIP Briggsville buddy I will never forget all the good times we had. Till we meet again. Rob Nordness
February 10, 2017
