In Loving Memory of Herbert L. Helzer (1939–2025)

By Herbert L. Helzer II

Herbert L. Helzer, age 85, of Fresno, California, a devoted husband, proud father, gifted mechanic, industrious worker, and loyal friend, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, surrounded in his final days by loving family and longtime friends.

Born in 1939 in Garden City, Kansas to Henry "Herbert" Helzer and Hazel Dawson (Helzer) Skeeters, Herb – called "Sonny" in his youth – was a genuine original, an innate mechanical and electrical genius with a gift for repairing and maintaining cars, aircraft, appliances and a wide variety of industrial and factory equipment. From an early age he worked with his hands, a self-taught "shade tree mechanic" who could take three wrecked cars and make one daily driver.

After graduating from Gypsum Rural High School in 1957, Herb promptly enlisted in the United States Air Force (1957-1962) as an aviation mechanic. He served tours in postwar Japan, the Azores Islands, Thule Air Base in northern Greenland (now known as Pituffik Space Base), and finally Selfridge AFB in southeast Michigan. He was a member of the Strategic Air Command (SAC), fixing iconic aircraft like the KC-135 aerial refueling tanker and B-52 Stratofortress bomber. Clearly Herb did an outstanding job, as those same KC-135s and B-52s are still flying six decades later. He took pride in his military service, reflecting the same quiet strength and dedication he carried throughout his life.

A lifelong love of cars defined Herb's world. In the 1960s and 1970s he was a champion road rally driver and sports car drag racer behind the wheel of his green Triumph Spitfire and red Sunbeam Alpine (lookalike cousin to the Sunbeam Tiger from "Get Smart!"). Once in California he switched to restoring and owning classics, including a1958 coral pink Cadillac, 1956 Chevy Bel Air, 1958 Buick Century, and his favorite: The burgundy 1952 two-door Kaiser Traveler first owned by Orson Welles, one of six left in the world. Painstakingly restored to original condition, Herb won so many trophies he took the Kaiser out of car show competition, content just to show it and talk about it.

For 51 beautiful years, Herb shared a deep and unwavering bond with his amazing wife, Patricia Diane (Sudden) Helzer. Together Herb and Pat built a life filled with love and resilience, living in the same house for the entire 51 years. He was a caring and patient father to his son and only child, Herbert L. Helzer II of Northville, Michigan (m. Robin Winchester), as well as a favorite uncle to Pat's nieces Julie Jantzen and Debbie (Jantzen) Sharp (m. Thom Sharp).

Herb played many roles in his time: FDR-inspired Democrat; square dance aficionado; dues-paying, blue-collar union member; self-employed handyman; wearer of watches;

inventor of unique factory machines; cement truck driver; model airplane builder; maker of wooden marble games; cancer survivor – but none more important than Husband, Father, Brother, Uncle and Friend.

Known for his amiable smile, gregarious nature, kind spirit and willingness to help anyone in need, Herb lived a life marked by integrity. Whether showing his classic cars across the San Joaquin Valley with Pharaohs Car Club of Clovis, Loose Wires Car Club, or meeting fellow owners of Studebakers, Packards, Hudsons and other mid-century rarities, Herb was always there – often with donuts, but ever ready to lend an ear, tell a story or offer a helping hand. A pillar among regional car enthusiasts, he gave of himself, expecting nothing in return.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Patricia; his son Herb; older sister Vesta (Helzer) Yost of Fresno; younger brother (Elton) Clark Helzer of Texas; younger half-siblings Pam Helzer Blue, Archie Helzer and Shelley Helzer Reinke, all of Kansas; Patricia's nieces Julie and Debbie; Herb's nieces Debbie Leavitt Allen, Billie (Yost) Velasco and Donna (Yost) Gies; Herb's nephews Stephen Leavitt, Mike Yost and Mitchell Yost; and numerous other nieces, nephews, cousins, grand-nieces and grand-nephews across America.

Herb's life will be celebrated Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at Yost & Webb Funeral Home, 1002 T St., Fresno, CA 93721, followed by a family-only graveside service at Belmont Memorial Park, 201 N. Teilman Ave., Fresno CA 93706.