Jack D. Helgren

Mason City, IA: Jack D. Helgren, 77, of Mason City, died Friday, May 1, 2009, at his home. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, May 5, 2009 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 213 N. Pennsylvania Avenue., with Rev. James Grabitske of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church officiating. Visitation will be on Monday, May 4, 2009 from 5:00 PM 8:00 PM at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue. Interment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Jack Helgren memorial fund.\r\n
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Jack was born on August 30, 1931 in Thompson, Iowa, the son of Leonard and Geneva (Olson) Helgren. He graduated from Thompson High School in 1948. Jack went into the U.S. Air Force in 1951 and was honorably discharged in 1955. He married Elizabeth Jensen on September 20, 1951 in Mason City. After the Air Force, Jack worked for Goodyear for 5 years and Sears for 5 years. In 1965, he started North Iowa Tire Company and House of Sports, where he was in business for 44 years until his illness. During those 44 years, his son John worked along side of him for 34 years. Jack was never interested in retiring and felt his customers were his friends. He had many hobbies, including snowmobiling, Sea Doos, and his Harley Davidson Trike that he loved to take his grandson Joel on. Jack also enjoyed riding his bike to Sturgis every year and going out to Yellowstone snowmobiling. Jack was a pilot and flew a 172 Cessna was he was younger. Two years ago, he flew a A T-6 WWII War Bird Fighter Plane. Jack had a cabin up north on Pelican Lake that he and Liz enjoyed for 26 years. He was happiest when he got to spend time with his two sons, especially together out west or up north. His last project was restoring a Farmall tractor and was hoping to ride in the July Tractor Ride. Jack was a member of the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and other numerous clubs. He will be greatly missed. \r\n
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Jack is survived by his wife of 57 years: Liz Helgren of Mason City; his two sons: Michael Helgren of Seattle, WA and John Helgren and fiance Joyce Diedrich of Mason City; 3 grandchildren: Joel Helgren of Mason City and Taylor & Andrew Helgren of Seattle; daughters-in-law: Kathleen Helgren of Mason City and Patricia Helgren of Seattle; one sister: Beverly Mittlestadt of Wichita, KS; nieces: Cynthia Maskarina and husband John of Mason City, Cheryl Cassels and husband Delbert of Garner, IA and Heidi Morgan and husband Mike of Junction City, KS; nephew: Tom Mittlestadt of Wichita, KS; his best friends: Forest Bud Cerney (also his brother-in-law) of Mason City and Rufus Glassel of Mason City. He is also survived by several cousins.\r\n
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He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents.