JAMES FREDRICK HELBLING

March 29, 1941 – July 10, 2025

Mr. Helbling, age 84, who was a lifelong resident of Elkhart passed away on July 10, 2025.  Friends of James F. Helbling (Jim) may call on Tuesday July 15 from 5pm to 8pm at Walley-Mills- Zimmerman Funeral home, 700 East Jackson Blvd, Elkhart, IN. Services will be at Trinity United Methodist Church, 2715 E. Jackson Blvd, Elkhart, IN where he became a member in March of 2011. Services will be on Wednesday, July 16 at 11am with visitation 1 hour prior to the service.   Pastor Karen Koelsch will be officiating.  Entombment will be in the Faith Mausoleum at Rice Cemetery.

He was born on March 29, 1941. He married his high school sweetheart, Judy on March 26, 1961. Together they were blessed and survived by 3 sons, Chris (Kristena) of Shalimar, Fl, Jeff (Lisa) of Bristol, IN and Brian (Tina) of Edwardsburg, MI. He is also survived by 9 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, his parents, Dorothy and Fredrick (Fritz) Helbling and his two sisters, Lucille Trim of Hicksville, Ohio, and Phyllis Fansler of Elkhart.

Mr. Helbling was a former employee of the Adams and Westlake Company for 18 years and then worked for the State of Indiana as a safety compliance officer for 25 years, retiring in 2006.  He also served as a reserve police officer for the Elkhart Police Department and as a reserve deputy sheriff and jailer for the Elkhart County Sheriff Department. He then served three years as a Deputy Marshal for the town of Bristol, IN. He was a member and elder at Saint John's United Church of Christ prior to 2011 when he became a member of Trinity United Methodist Church.  He was a member of the Elkhart Moose Lodge and a Red Coat at Elkhart General Hospital and was a volunteer at the Recreational Vehicle Hall of Fame.  He graduated from Elkhart High School, class of 1960.

Memorials may be given to the cadet or honor guard programs of the Elkhart County Sheriff Department or the Elkhart County Humane Society.