Harlan J. Helgeson, age 86, of West Bend, passed away Friday May 23, 2008 at the Samaritan Health Center.
He was born on September 1, 1921 in Bradley, Wisconsin to the late Joseph and Selma (nee Wrolstad) Helgeson. Harlan graduated from Tomahawk High School. He then served in the field artillery in the 12th Armored Division in Europe during WW II and earned a Purple Heart in Germany.
After returning to the United States Harlan attended and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the class of 1949, and attended graduate school at Northwestern University.
Harlan worked as a sports writer for the Atlanta Constitution, Waukegan News, and the Milwaukee Sentinel, before becoming editor and writer in the sports department for the Chicago Tribune.
In 1976 Harlan was united in marriage to Dorothy Braeger in Chicago, and in 1979 they made their home in West Bend. He was a devoted, faithful, and loving husband to Dorothy.
He was a member of St. John's Ev. Lutheran Church, the 12th Armored Division Association, and the Fred A. Schaefer V.F.W. Post # 1393.
Harlan liked to read, walk, bike, fish, and correspond with former newspaper co-workers. He also enjoyed gardening. He closely followed the football fortunes of the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, and the Wisconsin Badgers. All who knew Harlan would agree the he was friendly, kind, respectful, polite, generous, had a good sense of humor, patriotic, forward looking, and a devout believer in his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He will be missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; a sister, Marion (John I.) Confer of Tucson, AZ; two sisters-in-law, Alice Braeger and Grace Braeger, both of West Bend; two nieces, Joan (Walter) Sager of Layton, UT, and Jill Carson of Phoenix, AZ; a nephew, John L. (Kay) Confer of St. Croix Falls; other relatives and friends.
Funeral services in remembrance of Harlan will be held on Wednesday May 28th at 2:00 pm at the Myrhum ~ Patten Funeral Home, West Bend. Rev. Jeff Dorth will officiate, and burial will follow in Washington County Memorial Park. Visitation will be at the funeral home Wednesday from 1:00 pm until the time of service.
The family wishes to express deep gratitude to the doctors, nurses, and aids at SynergyHealth St. Joseph's Hospital and the Samaritan Health Center. Also to the nurses of Vitas Hospice Care for their expert and compassionate care of Harlan.