Obit: Helwig, Daniel J. #2 (1950 - 2017)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Helwig, Snaza, Lueck, Ritter, Hogan, Hemp, Truax, Stejskal, McQuade, Walker, Langfoss, Bahn, Wilson, Krueger

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 9/06/2017

Helwig, Daniel J. (15 November 1950 – 27 August 2017)

Daniel J. Helwig, 66, went home to his eternal resting place in God’s heaven Sunday, Aug. 278, 2017, while working at his lake home in Mikana, WI. Dan loved spending time “up north” with family and friends being close to nature – planting and caring for the yard, watching birds at the birdfeeders, and photographing the eagles soaring in flight over the lake. Building his latest creation, the “hut” (a treehouse) where he played the wolf to his little grandsons (the piggies) took hours of design, planning, construction to which he fondly said “ain’t no little job we can’t make big.” He was the best husband, dad, Grandpa, Gramps, Grampy and Papa a family could ever have; truly the rock of our family. He was never too tired or busy to pitch the ball, get drenched with water from squirting devices of all kinds, blow bubbles, or give pontoon rides pulling a tube of smiling passengers begging to go faster. He never ran out of patience when others would have none left.

Dan was born Nov. 15, 1950, to Frank and Anne (Snaza) Helwig in Webster, SD, who later moved to Neillsville where they farmed, and raised their 10 children. Dan attended grade school at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Neillsville, and graduated from Neillsville High School in 1969, where he played shortstop for the baseball team and met his lifelong partner and love of his life, Sharon. He worked at several jobs to put himself through college to become an architect, which he had decided would be his vocation at an early age and truly loved what he did every day and never felt it was work. Jobs including a production worker at a plastics factory in Elgin, IL, roofer at Sticker Roofing in Chili, a DJ at WCCN in Neillsville, as well as a station in Milwaukee, and as a draftsman at Gaier Construction of Neillsville proved him to be a hard-working, motivated individual who could meet any goals he set for himself. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from UW-Milwaukee School of Architecture in 1973.

He married Sharon (Lueck) Oct. 14, 1972, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Neillsville with his oldest brother, Father Aquinas Helwig officiating. They lived in Milwaukee while Dan finished college before returning to central Wisconsin where Dan began employment at the Boson Company, where he worked under architect Dale Langfoss before becoming a licensed architect in the State of Wisconsin in 1977. After 10 years at Boson, Dan started his own architectural office, Design Unlimited, in 1984, and love his career of designing homes, and commercial buildings in Marshfield, and throughout the state and Midwest. His work ethic and passion were evident in everything he did; he worked hard, and played hard. His work remains only a part of his legacy which changed the landscape of Marshfield, including projects at Wildwood Park, Hackman Field, Prevention Genetics, Prairie Run Dental, Robert Kay Orthodontics, Dental Clinic of Marshfield, Abby Banks, Tim Federal Savings Banks, Forward Financial Bank’s current office, Frist Presbyterian, and Christ Lutheran Churches, and many beautiful homes in which his family could not be prouder.

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Sharon; three sons, Christopher, Curtis (Kelly), and Cory (Christina); and six grandchildren, Trenton (Felicia Ritter, mother), Easton, Everett, Gracie, Sydney, Adelyn; four brothers, Adrian of Boulder, CO, Harry (Linda) of Rhinelander, Andy (Linda) of Broomfield, CO, Frank (Betty) of Fort Worth, TX; and three sisters, Vickie Helwig of Marshfield, Anne (Dan) Hogan, and Emery (Sue) Helwig of Marshfield, his mother-in-law, Gerry Lueck of Neillsville; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Linda and Mark Hemp of Neillsville, Janis and Mike Truax of Northfield, MN, Donna and Scott Stejskal of Rochester, MN, and Julie McQuade and friend Don Walker of Neillsville. Dan had several nieces, and nephews, including his hunting and photography buddy Logan McQuade of Neillsville.

Dan was preceded in death by a stillborn daughter, Kimberly Kay Helwig; his parents, Frank and Anne Helwig; two brothers, Father Aquinas and Lawrence Helwig; his father-in-law, Wilmer Lueck; and brother-in-law Tim McQuade.

Our tears of sadness will soon turn to tears of joy – knowing how blessed we were to have had him in our life, and that we will all be together again one day where there is no sadness or sorrow.

A memorial service was held at 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017, at Christ Lutheran Church, Marshfield, where the family received relatives and friends from 3 p.m. Saturday until service time. Rev. Daryn Bahn, Rev. Andrew Wilson, and Rev. Mark Krueger all officiated.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Children’s Miracle Network or Marshfield Area United Way for the NOW or Keep Kids Warm programs.

Condolences may be sent online to www.rembsfh.com.  Rembs Funeral Home assisted the family.