Duane Charles Helmberger Obituary

Duane Charles Helmberger, 87, of Farmersville, passed away June 12, 2019 in Carrolton, Texas. He was born April 29, 1932 in Lucas, SD to Joseph and Norma (Geyer) Helmberger. He graduated from Bonesteel High School in South Dakota and attended South Dakota State University where he received a degree in Civil Engineering. Duane served his country in the U.S. Air Force and Air Force Reserves from 1956-1960 where he was stationed in Germany for a time as an air traffic controller.

He met his wife, Alice Frances Gottlob, in Bonesteel, and they were married on August 26, 1957 in Salem, SD. Together they followed Duane's career which took them from South Dakota to Oklahoma to Wisconsin to Mississippi and finally to Texas in 1977 where they settled. Duane worked as a professional engineer for many years with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

After his time with the Corps, he worked for the Department of Defense – Air Force in Dallas. He retired in 1989 and helped his sons with the startup of an engineering firm, Helmberger Associates, Inc. Duane enjoyed making sausage, gardening and canning to the point his children believed he was storing up for the apocalypse.

His love of cards was apparent every time the Silver Fox came out to play a hand, but he was not fond of losing. He had a zest for learning and passing his knowledge on to his children and grandchildren, sometimes in unconventional ways. He loved crossword and jigsaw puzzles, and was always ready with a one-liner. His devotion to his Catholic faith and his family was apparent, and he was quick to provide support where needed, whether it was in Texas or required him to travel to extended family.

He worked hard to instill this sense of family in his children and the legacy he leaves behind is undeniable. Duane is survived by his twelve children and their families, Patti and her husband Lyle Marks of Garland, and their children, Shannon and her husband Josh, Nicholas and his wife Shawna, Ashley and her husband Jeff, Adam and his wife Emily, and Anna and her husband Shelby; Janet and her husband Walter Grinyer of Riverside, Calif. and their children, Trey, Karen and Bryna and her husband Kyle; Steve and his wife Katrina of Copeville, and their children, Anthony, Chad, Karissa and Renae; Joseph and his wife Debbie of Farmersville, and their children, Duane C. II and his wife Mechelle, Tim and his wife Katie, Allyson and her husband Phil, Jared and his wife Lauren, Kristen, Stephanie and Chester; Donna and her husband Blake Barry of St. Charles, Ill., and their children Alicia and her husband Matt, Bryce and his wife Blaire, Erienne and Brannon; Lori and her husband Peter Dunlop of China Spring, and their children, Kathleen and her husband Matt, Samantha and her husband Rob, Sara and her husband Jake, and Kyle and his fiancée Lauren; Robert and his wife Kristina of Melissa, and their children, Justin and his wife Maria, Morgan, Zachary and his wife Sammi, Haley and her fiancé Max, and Krista and her fiancé Cameron; Mary and her husband Adriel Garcia of Wylie, and their children, Christopher, Lauren and Brandon; Charles and his wife Bridget of Quinlan, and their children, Mariah, Rachel, Abigail, Charlea, Caroline, Jordan and Johnathan-Dakota; David and his wife Shawnna of Sachse, and their child Hunter; Randy and his fiancée Heather of Caddo Mills, and their children, Elaina, Rylea, Kase, and Patrick; Katie of Crowley, and great-grandchildren, Jack, Maggie, Lizzie, Ally, Jude, Jimmy, Parker, Wade, Westin, Shane, Collin, Caroline, Olive, Campbell, Liv, Collins, Riley, Sully; sisters, Norma Hostert of Butte, NE and Bonnie Clark of Yoder, CO., siblings-in-law Irma Helmberger of Papillion, NE, Gene Hostert of Butte, NE, and Elizabeth Ann Smith of Destin, FL as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his dearly beloved wife of 57 years, Alice; daughter, Karen, and grandchildren Rebecca and Anton; and eight siblings, Gladys, Mike, Doris, Don, Dean, Dorothy, Joyce and Ruth. A Rosary Service will be held on Sunday, June 16, 2019 at 7:00 pm at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Wylie. Mass of Christian Burial will follow on Monday, June 17, 2019 at 10:30 am St. Anthony Catholic Church.

Interment will be at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery in Grand Prairie at 2:00pm on Tuesday, June 18, 2019.