James Michael "Jim" Helm

DONGOLA - James Michael (Jim) Helm of Dongola returned to God on Nov. 2, 2024 while in hospice care at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

Jim is a proud 1965 graduate of Dongola High School. He attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale and graduated from the School of Business in 1971 with a bachelor's degree in accounting. He always kept up in touch with fellow members of his business fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi.

After graduation, Jim was employed in public accounting, as well as private industry. Jim worked for several years in Du Quoin and Carbondale before beginning his career in 1978 at Electric Energy Incorporated, a power-generating plant in Joppa. He began work at Electric Energy as an accountant. In 1985, Jim became an officer of the company with his promotion to secretary-treasurer. In 2009, he was named director of business services and oversaw the departments of accounting services, management services and human services.

Jim held a 23-year membership in the Edison Electric Institute's Taxation Committee and has traveled throughout the Unites States to participate in committee meetings.

Jim served as an adjunct instructor for Shawnee Community College as a accounting professor and was named the Union County Alumnus of the Year in 2008 by the Union County Hospital Association where a community member is saluted who has made significant contributions to Union County.

His retirement hobbies included operating his farm and tax service. He was an avid waterfowl hunter and loved hunting at his property, Bryley Ridge Farm.

Jim is survived by his wife, Christine Earnhart Helm, and his daughter, Dr. Paige Helm (John) Maginel; his two grandchildren, Henry James Maginel of Dongola and Bryce Helm Massey of Anna; his one sister, Jennifer Helm Flowers of Austin; a brother-in-law, Kenton (Beverly) Earnhart of Dongola; his nieces and nephews, Dr. John Van (Stacy) Earnhart, Justin (Lori) Earnhart, as well as Adrienne (Brett) Jacobsen of Atlanta and Alison (Greg) Blake of Austin; and great-nieces and great-nephew, Alyssa, Lauren, Nicole, Will, Presley, Cate and Claire.

He was a member of Maple Grove Baptist Church and was looking forward to a great reunion with his mother, Anita Brown Helm, who preceded him in death on Oct. 16, 1987.

Services for Jim will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Crain Funeral Home in Dongola, with his beloved nephew Dr. John Earnhart officiating. Visitation will be from noon until the time of services Tuesday. Interment will follow the funeral services in St. John's Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Shriners Children's Hospital in his memory as they provided wonderful care for him as a child.

Crain Funeral Home in Dongola is handling the arrangements.