Joseph B. Helms Dvm

Joseph B. Helms, DVM
Edwardsville - Joseph B. Helms, DVM, of Edwardsville, IL, passed away July 26, 2025. He was born January 23, 1937, in Belleville, IL. The son of the late Lester W. and Florence Wessel Helms. He married his first wife, Sharon N. Hoffmann, of 53 years, in Farmington, IL, on September 2, 1959. Sharon died on September 20, 2012. He married Susanne C. Nelson on September 6, 2016. She preceded him in death.
Dr. Helms is survived by three daughters, Ann (Alan) Phillips, Jean Marie (Chuck) Smith, and Jane Helms, as well as a son, Robert (Amy) Helms. Two children preceded him in death, Joel B. Helms and Cheryl E. Helms. He was blessed with eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Dr. Helms graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Science in 1960 and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1962. He was a member and the President of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. After graduation, he enlisted in the Army, serving as a Captain in the Army Veterinary Corps and at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C., where he served for two years. In 1965, he joined as a partner with Dr. Merrill Ottwein at Hawthorne Animal Hospital. In 1968, upon Dr. Ottwein's retirement, he acquired the practice and renamed it Hawthorne Animal Hospital, Ltd., where he practiced for 34 years until his retirement in 1997.
Adding to his commitment to community service, he served on the Board of Directors of First Federal Savings and Loan for 35 years, as well as the Board of Directors of First Cover Leaf Bank, where he served as Chairman of the Board for six years. First Cover Leaf Bank later merged with First Mid Bank, a publicly traded financial services company. He formally served on the Edwardsville YMCA Board and continued to support the YMCA throughout the years. He was a member of the Edwardsville Rotary and a lifetime member of the Turkey Hill Grange, as well as the AVMA, ISVMA, and SIVMA.
According to his wishes, his remains will be donated to St. Louis University Medical School for anatomical studies. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Madison County Historical Society, 801 N. Main St. Edwardsville, IL 62025; or the Turkey Hill Grange, 1375 E. State Rt. 15, Belleville, IL 62220.
Friends may express condolences online at www.KalmerMemorialServices.com. Kalmer Memorial Services in Lebanon is in charge of arrangements.