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David Helmboldt
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Memorial for David Lee Helmboldt
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Born in North Bend, OR on Oct. 31, 1940
Departed on Jul. 12, 2010 and resided in Kent, WA.
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| Memorial Service: |
Friday, Jul. 16, 2010
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| Cemetery: |
Hillcrest Burial Park
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Please click on the links above for locations, times, maps, and directions.
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Dave was born in North Bend, Oregon, October 31st. He was under five pounds at birth, but quickly caught up to normal weight within weeks and kept his parents Howard and Velma busy as a happy, creative, and charming young boy. He was an only child who enjoyed making up games and playing basketball. In school he became involved with art, was the lead in a play, and played basketball for the school team, graduating in 1959 from Lincoln High School in Portland. Even then, his classmates described him as a loyal, caring friend. Dave was very well liked and admired by his peers.
After high school he attended the University of Oregon, earning his teaching degree. Dave was offered a summer job fishing for salmon in Alaska with a close friend, and returned each summer to supplement his teaching income. He fished in Alaska for several years before deciding to settle down and focus on teaching and getting to know his recent blind date, now girlfriend.
Dave met Shirley in 1967 on a blind date set up by their mutual friends, which began a courtship that resulted in them becoming best friends. On March 29th, 1969, Dave and Shirley were married in Hoquiam, Washington, beginning a relationship that spanned the next 41 years. Dave deeply loved Shirley, becoming a better man each day by exercising patience, humility, and speaking and acting gently in his love for her. They founded their marriage on God's principles, and Dave emulated Christ's love for the church in his love for Shirley.
Dave and Shirley gave birth to sons Matt in 1974, followed by Tim in 1976, and joined Kent Covenant Church shortly after. Dave enjoyed the new friendships he and Shirley made at Kent Covenant, and formed many friendships that still remain today, almost 35 years later. Dave was truly a servant at heart, first to his wife and his children, and then to the church. He served God faithfully by participating in services, on committees, and loved respecting God through his passion for people. His deep desire to help coupled with his sense of loyalty involved him with all the pastors on staff over the years, forming tight bonds and friendships. Dave also attended Bible Study Fellowship for a number of years as he became more and more interested in studying the Bible
He was often seen staying late at church on Sundays, deep in conversation after conversation, often having to be literally dragged away from the church by his wife and children as afternoon approached. He loved people and truly knowing them. He had a way of speaking that made people comfortable. He was disarming, likeable, and an incredibly genuine man. He loved being in God's creation, appreciated art, enjoyed looking at new and old tractors, and loved his friends – which were most of the people he met.
He was a true family-man who loved being with his boys, playing with them, loving them, teaching them, and molding them by his example. Dave was a patient father who allowed his sons freedom to express their creativity, a committed and faithful husband and provider, and it was important to him to ensure every need was met for his family.
With a dear friend from church, he formed a small landscape company and enjoyed creating friendships with his clients, some of whom he continued to help with their landscape needs years after the business closed. He dedicated his landscaping knowledge to the church, teaching his youngest son Tim discipline and work ethic by keeping the grounds at the church maintained as a young teenager.
Dave enjoyed hurrying home after teaching high school to play basketball in the driveway with his sons Matt and Tim, a daily tradition that carried on for many years until they left home for college. He always made time to spend with his sons, attending every sporting event they were involved in, every school event, and provided the resources to attend camps in the summers.
Dave began teaching at Kentridge High School when it was built in 1974, continuing to teach there until retirement. He mostly taught art and photography, and chaired the art department for many years. He affected the lives of thousands of kids, and even second-generation students of former students. He is highly regarded by many of his former students, who all remember him fondly. His unique sense of humor, enthusiasm, and dedication to creating healthy relationships with his students left an indelible mark and legacy at Kentridge. He enjoyed mentoring students and younger colleagues alike.
In retirement, Dave enjoyed his coffee runs with the "boys", and welcomed new additions to the Helmboldt family with open arms, adopting his son's wives Kristin and Katie with great passion and interest. He liked to call them his "daughters", because to him, they are loved as his own. He enjoyed watching his grand daughters Madison and Hailey grow up, loved listening to them laugh, and found great joy in the time he and Shirley spent with them. Right up until he passed away, he was excited to meet his new unborn grand daughter, Natalie, always asking about the baby and expressing how much he already loved her and couldn't wait to meet her and hold her.
His travels with Shirley, Matt, Tim, and their family friends over the years left him with a treasure chest full of memories that will also comfort many of us as we remember him. Even this spring, after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Dave and Shirley went on a month long cruise with friends to Europe. He is remembered as a strong man with excellent character, who never complained or griped about things, even after the news of his cancer and months of pain and discomfort. He did not allow himself to be hindered by negativity or be downcast. He seemed to always put more importance on anyone and everyone else that he was with, often denying his own needs and comfort for the benefit and comfort of others.
We all remember our fond memories of Dave before the cancer took from him his energy and enthusiasm, and remember him for his character, quirks, sense of humor, dedication, and love. He was a faithful and loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend. Although he may have lost the fight his body had with cancer, the battle he faced had already been won when he put his faith in Jesus so many years ago and lived steadfast to emulate Christ's example. Knowing that his faith in Jesus has saved him, we know with certainty that he is now with our Lord God, free from pain, free from discomfort, in the place God prepared ahead of him. For this reason we can find peace and calm in the solemn remembrance of our dear beloved, Dave Helmboldt.
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