Henry J. "Harry" Hellman

Henry Joseph “Harry” Hellman, 90, of Lexington, Nebraska, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, April 30, 2008, at Tri-County Hospital in Lexington, due to complications of congestive heart failure. Harry was born to Raymond J. and Elizabeth M. (Doebele) Hellman on June 5, 1917, in Lincoln, Kansas, the third of four children. He grew up and went to school in Grand Island and Fairbury, Nebraska, graduating from Fairbury High School in 1935. He then worked for Hesteds Variety Stores for 20 years, serving stores in Fairbury, York, Laramie, Wyoming, Hebron, West Point and Beatrice. In 1956, he purchased his own variety store in Lexington, Nebraska, owning and operating Hellman’s of Lexington until he retired in 1981. On June 5, 1938, on his 21st birthday, Harry Married Geraldine I. “Jerry” Willcoxon in Fairbury. To this union seven children were born; Michael Bennett, Patrick David, Daniel Thomas, Dennis Joseph, Mary Anne, Mary Elizabeth and Mary Margaret. Harry served in the Army for two years during WWII. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus since 1945. In Lexington he attended St. Ann’s Catholic Church. He was past president of the Lexington Chamber of Commerce. He received the St. George Award for his contribution of time, talent and treasure to Boy Scouting. Harry is survived by five children: Mike (Patti) Hellman of Waukesha, Wisconsin Pat (Lynne) Hellmann of Muncie, Indiana Dan (Ruth) Hellman of Westminster, Colorado Dennis (Jean) Hellman of Shelton, Nebraska Mary Elizabeth Hellman Cone of Roscoe, Nebraska Fourteen grandchildren and twenty-three great-grandchildren. Harry was preceded in death by his parents; two daughters at birth; wife, Jerry, in 1998; two brothers, Jacob Bennett and Sidney Raymond and a sister, Clara May. Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday, May 5, 2008, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Lexington, Nebraska with Reverend Paul Colling officiating. Burial with Military Honors will be in the St. Ann’s Catholic Cemetery at Lexington. Visitation will be held Sunday, May 4, 2008, from 4-6 p.m. with Wake to follow at 6:00 p.m. all at Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington. Memorials are suggested to the Donor’s Choice. Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is in charge of arrangements.