James W Helgeson

James William Helgeson, 75, of Cedar Falls, died Saturday, May 29, 2010, at the Cedar Valley Hospice Home in Waterloo, after a very long illness.  He was born August 14, 1934 at Chimney Rock, Wisconsin, the son of William B. and Marie (Rudy) Helgeson.  James married Korene Gavin on September 15, 1956 in Wisconsin, they later divorced.  He married Diana (Stokes) Beck on December 31, 1988 in Cedar Falls.  She preceded him in death on March 13, 2001.  James served in the U.S. Army and worked at John Deere Tractor Works in Waterloo for thirty years.  He later worked at GMAC for five years and MET Para Transit for several years.  James was a charter member of the Contemporary Historical Vehicle Association (CHVA), and was a member of both the UAW and the Transit Union.

Survivors include three sons, Mike (Carol Bergman) Helgeson of Cedar Falls, Kevin (Deenese) Helgeson of Royal Palm Beach, Florida, and Patrick (Cheryl) Helgeson of Lakeville, Minnesota; a daughter, Maureen (Ron) Mehmen, of Plainfield, Iowa; seven grandchildren; two step-sons, David (Ellen) Beck and Nels Beck, both of Waterloo; a brother, Jerry (Carrie) Helgeson, of Rosemont, Minnesota, and a very close friend, Joan Adams, of Charles City, Iowa.

James was preceded in death by his parents and his wife Diana, a sister, Betty Gavin, and a step-son, Thomas Nels Beck.

Services will be 10:30 am Friday, June 4, 2010, at Zion Lutheran Church, rural Hudson, with burial at Greenwood Cemetery in Cedar Falls.  Military honors will be conducted by Cedar Falls AMVETS Post 49. Visitation will be 5—8:00 pm Thursday, June 3, at Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home, and one hour before service at the church.  Memorials may be directed to the family at 1825 W. 12th St. Cedar Falls, IA  50613, the Salvation Army, or Cedar Valley Hospice.  Online condolences may be left at www.DahlFuneralHome.com .