Helgens, Galen John

Galen John Helgens, 81, of Monticello, died Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012, at Jones Regional Medical Center after a valiant fight with cancer. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 27, at Wayne Zion Lutheran Church in Monticello where friends and relatives may begin to gather at 1 p.m. Pastor Ellery Dykeman will officiate. Inurnment will be in Wayne Zion Cemetery.

Galen John Helgens was born in Wayne Township, Jones County, Iowa, on May 24, 1931, to Edward and Anna Louise (Gerdes) Helgens. He received his education in Monticello schools, graduating from Monticello High School with the class of 1949.

He served in the Army in Korea and Japan for two years and was a lifetime member of the Arthur P. O'Rourke V.F.W. Post. He was married to Charlene Alyea on Oct. 23, 1955, and joined his father in the pork producing business, during which time he served on various county and state pork producers boards. He was divorced in 1992.

In September 1994, he married Margie (Abels) LeClere.

Since retirement he worked part-time for Anamosa Publications for 15 years, enjoyed golfing, attending State Fair and National Pork Congress to visit with old pork producer friends, and, of course, keeping up with the Yankees baseball games. Galen agreed with Winston Churchill when he said “There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of man.”

Galen is survived by his wife, Margie; and his two daughters, Kathi Jo (Kevin) Sprau of Monticello and Taylor (Lee) Savage of Gainesville, Fla.; one foster daughter, Donna (Steiner) Mehaffy of Marion; three stepsons, Timothy (Jolene) LeClere of Foreston, Ill., Matthew (Kelly) LeClere of Galesburg, Ill. and Nathan (Brandy) LeClere of Marion; three grandchildren; four stepgrandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and one brother, Darrel (Goldie) Helgens of Marion.

Memorials are preferred to the American Cancer Society or Camp Wyoming.

Information available and condolences accepted at .

Published in The Gazette Dec. 25, 2012.