Roger Helmich, son of William and Gladys (Haas) Helmich, was born on June 21, 1943, in Kossuth County, Iowa. He passed away on March 19, 2025, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota at the age of 81. Funeral services for Roger were held on Thursday, March 27, 2025 at Henry Olson Funeral Chapel with Pastor Thomas Marth officiating. Burial, with military honors by VFW Post 3388 and American Legion Post 91 of Estherville, were held at East Side Memorial Cemetery in Estherville.
Roger attended Emmet Consolidated through 8th grade and then graduated from Estherville High School in 1961. He was confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Estherville. Following graduation, he entered into the United States Air Force on February 1, 1962, and completed his basic training in Texas. He then was stationed in Omaha until his deployment to Guam for 18 months. He was honorably discharged on January 11, 1966, and returned home to Emmet County. Roger began farming with his dad. Roger continued to farm, later with his brother joining, throughout the remainder of his life. He lived on the family farm until his health declined, at that time he moved to assisted living in Algona for a short time. In May of 2024 he settled into his new lifestyle at Aspire Nursing Home in Estherville and really enjoyed his time there.
Roger enjoyed bullhead fishing and hunting with his brother. He liked to watch Westerns, especially the Longmire Series. Time always stopped for the Iowa Hawkeyes and Minnesota Viking games. During his time at Aspire he was very fond of find a word puzzles and his family could barely keep him supplied with new books.
Roger is survived by his siblings Eugene Helmich of Estherville, Iowa and Diane (Rodney) Winter of Marshall, Minnesota.
Roger is preceded in death by his parents and numerous extended family members.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.henryolsonfuneral.com. Henry Olson Funeral Home of Estherville assisted the family with arrangements.
