Kermit Helmke

Kermit "Kerm" Helmke, of Miaimisburg, OH, passed away on July 2 at Bethany Lutheran Village, Centerville, OH. He was born on a farm south of Tomah, WI on 22 August 1926 to Chris and Arvilla Helmke. He attended Tomah High School, graduating in 1944. Kermit had two successful Air Force careers: one as a Navigator-Bombardier, the second as an Aerospace Engineer. He completed the Remote Control Turret Mechanic School at Lowry AFB in 1947, Officer Candidate School in 1949, and Navigator and Radar Bombing training at Ellington AFB in 1950 and 1951. He flew his first combat tours (B-26s) out of Iwakuni Japan, March-August, 1951, completing 55 successful missions in six months. Upon return to the states, he attended bomb upgrade training at Ellington AFB TX and Mather AFB CA. His mission was tactical recon until 1964. Kerm flew the B-57 and B-66 in active and passive ECM roles, weather missions, as well as photo missions. He was a high time navigator in the B-66 with most of the work being done at Shaw AFB, SC, Chelveston UK, and Toul Rosierre AFB France. His final tour on his first career was F-105 radar training at Nellis AFB NV.

After separation from the Air Force in 1967, Kerm attended The Georgia Institute of Technology and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace Engineering. Only two military retirees had successfully completed the Undergraduate Aero curriculum at The Georgia Institute of Technology when he graduated in 1973. Upon graduation he worked for the Boeing Company near Philadelphia, PA as a design engineer on the Heavy Lift Helo and at Boeing Wichita on the KC-135 re-skin. He also worked for Beech Aircraft at Wichita on the 1089 missile. He later accepted an offer to return to the Air Force as a civilian, working A-7 structural integrity at Tinker AFB OK. In 1979 he transferred to Wright-Patterson AFB OH where he worked as a design engineer on many USAF aircraft, and eventually finished service as a Logistics Engineering manager at AFLC headquarters.

Kerm loved all aspects of aviation. Even though both of his careers were during the "Cold War," he managed to amass a couple thousand hours of flying in Stinsons, Taylorcarfts, Pipers, etc. His inspiration to fly came from Vic and Cora Bloyer, when he went for his first airplane ride at a Wilton (WI) Dairy Day, circa 1938.

Kermit was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Merlyn Clark Helmke; and one grandson, Alexander Maxis. He is survived by his wife, Helene' E. Helmke , of Miamisburg, OH; a son, Dwight (Judy) Helmke of Warrens, WI; a daughter, Christine (Ike) Maxis, of Beavercreek, OH; and a son, Keith (Jill) Helmke, of Park City, UT; three grandchildren, as well as many other relatives and friends.

Kermit was a faithful Lutheran his entire life. Pastors who had a profound influence on his life were Rev. Berg of Ridgeville, WI, Rev. Splett of Wilton, WI (Confirmation 14 July 1940), Chaplain Buck (Lowry AFB), Chaplain Vargas (Nellis AFB), and, most recently, Pastor Voss of Centerville, OH.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, July 14, 2016 at 1:00 pm at Newcomer Funeral Home, 3940 Kettering Blvd., Kettering, Ohio 45439 with Pastor Joel Voss officiating. Family will receive friends from 12-1:00 pm on Thursday at the funeral home. Kermit's body will be laid to rest at the VA Cemetery, Dayton, OH.

Memorials may be sent to the EAA Aviation Foundation, P.O. Box 3065, Oshkosh, WI 54903 and/or Resurrection Ev. Lutheran Church, 1315 E. Alex-Bell Road, Centerville, OH 45459.