Peter G. Helmberger

1933 - 2025

Peter G. Helmberger

October 19, 1933 - June 25, 2025

Peter George Helmberger, 91, of Madison, Wisconsin, died on June 25, 2025. Peter was born on October 19, 1933, in Perham, Minnesota. He was the son of John and Mary Helmberger. He passed away peacefully in his sleep in the presence of his loving daughter Catherine Rose Geier after a long battle with a variety of age-related illnesses. Peter was incredibly smart, very funny, a brilliant economist, a master gardener, and loved this family more than anything else. He led a life filled with family, laughter, love, adventure, and academic excellence.

Peter was the twelfth of thirteen children born into a farm family in Ottertail County, Minnesota. His childhood was difficult, filled with farm work, poverty, and challenges growing up during the Great Depression. But even with these difficulties, Peter forged lasting relationships with his siblings which continued throughout their respective lives. Family visits were filled with laughter, politics, poker, and more politics.

After Peter graduated from high school, he enrolled at the University of Minnesota where he studied economics. In addition to achieving a stellar academic record, he met Rose Reasbeck and it was love at first sight. Peter obtained his bachelor's degree in economics, and a master's degree in Agriculture Economics.

In 1957, Peter and Rose were married and moved to California where Peter obtained a PhD in Agricultural Economics at the University of California - Berkeley. Peter and Rose's first child, Catherine, was born while they lived in California. From there, Rose and Peter moved to Bellefonte PA, where Peter was on the faculty at Penn State and their daughter Mary Sylvia was born. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Madison, Wisconsin, where Peter joined the faculty at the University of Wisconsin - Madison as a professor in the Department of Agriculture Economics. While there, their sons Peter John Helmberger and Timothy James Helmberger were born. After a brief stint back in Berkeley in the late '60s, Peter and Rose returned to and settled in Madison, Wisconsin, where Peter balanced his academic achievements and adventures with his growing family.

Peter's academic achievement in the field of Agriculture Economics is difficult to summarize. Starting with his PhD dissertation and ending with his last few articles and a textbook, Peter routinely published award-winning papers in the most prestigious economic journals all the way up to his retirement in the mid-1990s. His career culminated in acceptance to the American Economic Association.

Peter had numerous hobbies over the years. He painted watercolors of barns and farms, he was an avid gardener and landscaper. His beautiful gardens were inspiring to neighbors and within a short time natural wildflower gardens sprang up and down the street. He loved to play piano and was an accomplished pianist. He continued to play right up until the time of his passing, which was incredible given that he had forgotten so much. He loved dogs, owning several himself and enjoying his children's dogs whenever there was a visit. In his retirement he took to writing murder mysteries self-publishing three of his books. He also loved the ballet and during retirement, he and Rose made numerous trips to New York City and other destinations to watch performances. They travelled the world making several trips to Europe, visiting Great Britain, France, Spain, and Germany.

Peter also loved to ski. He taught his children and took them on many trips around the Upper Midwest and to Colorado. His love of the mountains led to summer vacations in the Rockies. The long drives meant three days in the car, hard boiled eggs, Dramamine, and four kids to keep under control but were worth the effort to get his children to the beloved Glacier National Park. Affectionately called "Helmberger death marches", he and his brothers led hikes up mountain passes, to glaciers and alpine lakes filled with trout. His love of the mountains was passed to his children who follow in those footsteps whenever they can.

More than anything, Peter loved his children. He never missed a concert, play, game or meet. He was always there for his children, right up until the point that Alzheimer's got the better of his memory. He was also simply one of the funniest people you would ever meet, still able to laugh and make quips up to the time of his passing.

Peter is survived by children: Catherine (Theodore) Geier, Mary Sylvia, Peter John Helmberger, Timothy James Helmberger (Shannon Scott); and grandchildren: Theodore Michael Geier (Erin Januchowski), Elizabeth Rose Hook (Derek), Peter William Geier, Hillary Rose Jones, Claire Rose Lewis (Helmberger), Calhoun Peter Helmberger, Dane Robert Helmberger, Aidan Patrick Helmberger, and William Casey Helmberger; and great-granddaughter Alexis Marie Geier.

Please feel free to share your memories and condolences with the family.