Helmer Raymond Kinunen

1927 - 2025

Helmer Raymond Kinunen
January 26, 1927 - August 30, 2025
Helmer Raymond Kinunen passed away on August 30, 2025, at the age of 98, surrounded by family. Just before his passing, he remarked that "all is well."
Helmer was born in Rocklake, ND, on January 26, 1927, as the youngest of seventeen siblings. He was raised on a family farm and was largely parented by a handful of older siblings. Helmer graduated from the University of North Dakota with a degree in accounting and moved west to San Francisco, where he fell in love with and married Joyce Cary on July 11, 1959, who preceded him in death on December 3, 2010. He built his career as a certified public accountant before turning his entrepreneurial spirit toward a number of small retail businesses, including Chicken Delight in Walnut Creek, the Gift Exchange in San Francisco, and Deck the Walls in Santa Rosa.
Helmer was a quiet and intellectual man who enjoyed the daily crossword and kept thorough notes on his favorite classical music pieces. He was a paternal keeper of wisdom and lovingly imparted knowledge and life lessons to his young grandsons. He joyfully recalled playing chess and the model windmill and combustion engine he built with his grandsons. A proud Finn, Helmer was fluent in his parents' tongue and would gladly recite The Lord's Prayer in Finnish when asked. Contrary to his unassuming nature, Helmer possessed a spritely gleam in his eye and chuckled at his stories of mischief and humor. Helmer took great joy in his lifelong friends and array of family members whom he found to be the blessings of his long life.
Raised Lutheran, Helmer attended Calvary Presbyterian Church with his young family in San Francisco. After moving to Santa Rosa, he was not a regular church-goer, preferring to experience the holy in the great classical composers.
He will be remembered for his love of others, integrity, and profound kindness.
Helmer is survived by son, Paul, and daughter-in-law, Sheila Denton (Santa Rosa); son, Eric, and partner, Stephanie Martin (Sacramento); grandsons, Morgan (Santa Rosa) and Sam (Sacramento). He was cremated on September 8 and his family will hold a small memorial in Santa Rosa in April 2026.