The Man Who Started It All–J.E. Helfert

Joseph E. Helfert, newspaper editor and civic leader in Beaver Dam for nearly half a century, passed away at Beaver Dam Community Hospitals, Hillside Unit, late Wednesday afternoon, November 28, 1973, after being stricken with cancer several months ago.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 1, 1:30 p.m. at the Murray Funeral Home and 2 p.m. at St. Peter’s Catholic Church. Rev. Joseph Stier will officiate at the services and burial will be in the parish cemetery.

The late Mr. Helfert was born on July 19, 1894, at Olmitz, Kansas, the son of Mr. And Mrs. Alois Helfert. On September 26, 1921, he was married to Loretta Gavigan who proceeded in death in January 1937. He was married to Beryl L. Carlson on June 25, 1938.

Surviving re his widow, Beryl; three daughters, VRS. Arther (Jeanne) Sommers of Kohler, Mrs. D.R. (Carol) Macdonald of Rhinelander, and Mrs. Frank (Mary Jo) O’Hara of Madison: two sons, Charles J. Helfert of Dallas, Texas, and Thomas L. Helfert of Horicon: 20 grandchildren: and one brother, Edward Helfert of Hoisington, Kansas.

Also preceding in death were his parents; and two sisters, Mrs. Otto Trechter and Mrs. Roy Cornelius, both of Hoisington, Kansas.

Friends may call at the Murray Funeral Home after 3:00 p.m. on Friday and until the hour of services on Saturday afternoon. There will be a Knights of Columbus vigil on Friday evening at 7:30, and a perish vigil at eight o’clock.

Memorials will be accepted for the Joseph E. Helfert Memorial Fund.

The Beaver Dam Safety Committee, both present and former members, will serve as honorary pallbearers. Committee members are advised to contact 885-4292 for further information.

It Was A Busy Life!

Joe Helfert’s busy life spanned a wide range of professional, business, community, youth, church, safety, country and family service. Highlights of his career include:

Formal Education

Elementary education and high school, 1913 graduate, Hoisington, Kansas; received teacher’s certificate from Great Bend Normal School and taught school on year in a Russian community in Barton County, Kansas: attended Pittsburgh (Kan) Normal Training School and taught two years at Kingston School.

In September, 1916, Enrolled at Marquette University School of Journalism, and returned to school after World War I. He served on the Marquette University Athletic Board from 1952-55.

Professional Career

Before coming to Beaver Dam to become editor of the Daily Citizen in August 1926, he worked for short times on the Sheboygan Press, Racine Journal and Milwaukee Journal. However, it was as a cub reporter for the Milwaukee Sentinel before World War I that he got his first start as a newspaperman. He later went with United Press, and in 1920 was named bureau manager at Milwaukee.

While associated with Marquette University he was editor of the Marquette Tribune and associate editor of the Marquette Hilltop. He was a member of Phi Rho Epsilon journalism fraternity and was one of the founders of the Sigma Delta Chi journalism fraternity.

Professional awards include the Alpha Sigma Tau honorary key and the Marquette University By-Line Award in June 1946, being included with the first group to receive this honor.

He went into semi-retirement in 1970, but continued to write his Open Eye Column daily.

Business Career

He was a partner in the Citizen Publishing Co. until his retirement, and then served on the company’s board of directors.

He was a member of the Beaver Dam Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors for 10 years, and served as chamber president for two years, 1944-45.

Safety Activities

One of the first and early promoters of safety campaigns, he organized a Radio Club shortly after coming to Beaver Dam, and in 1929 he founded the Open Eye Club, a safety program directed at children, but which included highway safety for adults too. On the 25th anniversary of the club he was honored with a special citation from Governor Kohler, and Beaver Dam city officials. He received many youth safety awards from the VFW, American Legion, Eagles, Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club, Knights of Columbus, the Wisconsin Council of Safety and many others, on local, state and national levels.

He served as a member of the Wisconsin Safety Committee, appointed to the post in 1954 by Governor Kohler and was named to the Beaver Dam Safety Committee in 1952 by Mayor Alvin Beers. He served as chairman of this committee up until the time of his death.

His Open Eye Club membership cards have been distributed throughout the nation, and have been forerunners to many other local youth safety organization.

Religious and Church Activities

He was a member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church and the Holy Name Society. Throughout the years he was active in the Knights of Columbus, having held offices in the Beaver Dam council, including grand knight. He was named by the council as “The Outstanding Catholic Layman” of 1965, a statewide award, when the council observed its Golden Jubilee. He served as a member of the state K.C. Bowling Committee for 11 years.

He was state deputy of the Wisconsin Knights of Columbus from 1946-48. He helped organize the Columbian Squires of Beaver Dam in 1933, and was Squire Committee chairman for the state council for 11 years.

He helped organize the St. Peter’s Credit Association and served as its president for two years.

Service to Country

While a student at Marquette University he enlisted in the U.S. Army in July 1918. After training in the United States he served in Italy during the war at Vicenza and Castle Franca, and returned home in May 1919.

He was a member of the Beaver Dam American Legion Post, and served as its athletic officer for many years. He was also a member of the Beaver Dam Barracks, and organization of World War I veterans.

During World War II he corresponded with many Beaver Dam serviceman and wrote an open letter to al servicemen entitled “Dear Tony”.

Youth Activates

He was one of the early organizers of Boys Baseball and served as manager of the Yankees for many years. He was honored by the boys, managers and parents as a “Joe Helfert” day.

His activity also included work with Boy Scouts on all levels of adult participation. For his over 30 years of scouting he has received the Boy Scout Statuette and the S. George Medal, the highest Catholic adult honor.

He was on of the organizers of the Do-Dads of Beaver Dam, which built the Juliette Low Girl Scout House.

Many farm organizations have honored him with awards. He became the first honorary state farmer in 1954, an award from the Future Farmers of America and was “Mr. FA.” He has also been honored by the Beaver Dam FFA and in 1962 received a “meritorious service” award from the 4-H clubs.

Helfert was a director of the Wisconsin Youth Symphony, and a member of the Citizens Advisory Committee of the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, 1967-71. He was an honorary member of the Beaver Dam Senior High Band.

Throughout the years he also worked with other juvenile programs in the city and country.

Community Activities

Served as a member of the Beaver Dam Plan Commission, 1951-58; was one of the organizers of the Beaver Dam United Fund and served on its board of directors for three years; served on the Dodge County Community Concert’s board of directors; and fro many years was involved in Red Cross programs., from which he received special recognition.

For his years of community service he received the “Distinguished Leadership Award” from Marquette University in 1968-69, and the Independent Insurance Agents of Wisconsin presented him with their “Man of Action” award in 1968.