Helmut Paul Martin Meinig

Helmut and his older sister (born 28 Nov 1928) moved to Schliersee in the Bavarian Alps in the late 1930’s with their mother and stepfather Pastor Geissendorfer. Helmut enjoyed his Bavarian childhood and formed lifelong friendships- particularly Brosi and Eva Fichtner. He excelled in ski jumping and was fondly remembered for his mechanical aptitude and independent spirit. As World War II raged, Helmut learned to fly gliders in the after school Hitler Youth program. His love of flying became a major theme in his life. He and his Schliersee friends note that despite the hardships of the war, they had many typical happy childhood memories growing up the alpine foothills. By 1945, Helmut had completed flight training and was subsequently stationed as a 15 year old at Furstenfeldbruch Airfield near Munich. In the waning months of the war he flew the Messersschmitt Bf 109. He noted that his missions consisted of flying above Munich to draw allied planes away from targets. When the war ended, he recalls burning his flight suit and walking away from the airfield. In the immediate years after the war, Helmut worked with the occupying US forces as a translator. In exchange for his services he was paid with gasoline which was sold on the Black Market. His second family at this point was the Schafstaller family who lived and operated a garage and taxi business in the Bogenhausen neighborhood of Munich. Helmut lived with them and formed his other lifelong friendship with Hansi Schafstaller. Helmut was well known in Schliersee during these years for always having a car or motorcycle and gasoline. A memorable story often told in Schliersee was of Helmut’s VW Bug which was converted essentially into a large gasoline tank to sell gasoline on the Black Market. The car caught fire and was pushed into the lake to save the car and its precious cargo. Helmut officially served as USAF interpreter from 1947-49. He attended the University of Munich for 2 years. In the post war years, a family farm on the Schubert side of the family in Duerhennersdorf near Dresden was nationalized by the communist government. The loss of the farm ended Helmut’s dream of land ownership in Germany.

By 1951, Helmut had two dreams- to own land and continue to fly. An US Army Air Corps chaplain sponsored Helmut’s immigration to the US. As a 21 year old, Helmut arrived in the US and enlisted in the US Air Force. Shortly after his arrival, the 3 year residency requirement was reduced to 3 months so he could apply for US Citizenship. He flew a Piper J3 Cub from Tacoma WA to Washington DC to acquire his US Citizenship. On October 5, 1951 he was now a US Citizen. He was then transferred to Graham Air Base as a USAF Cadet. Helmut had a distinguished training career and was his Cadet Squadron Commander. He completed his college degree at the University of Nebraska while stationed in Lincoln NE at a SAC Bomber Air Force Base. He started his USAF career initially as an F84 pilot, then piloted the B47 bomber and was an Instrument Pilot Instructor in the T39 Sabreliner. He was stationed at Tan Son Nhut Air Base in 1970-1971. He was the chief pilot in the Seventh Air Force SCATBACK mission during his Vietnam deployment. Helmut retired from the USAF in 1979.

In 1954, he met Patricia Ann Hebb who was working as a hospital lab technician at Nellis Air Force Base. She was an aspiring pilot and was soon a licensed pilot. She and Helmut married in 1955 and he was subsequently stationed at Laredo AFB. They shared their love of aviation and owned and flew Bellancas, Navions, and Geronimos during their marriage. Son Richard was born at Laredo AFB in 1957 followed by daughter Kimberly in 1960 while stationed at Lake Charles AFB. While stationed at Randolph AFB in the mid 1960’s, Helmut realized his other dream of land ownership. He purchased from German speaking farmers two farms near Marion Texas. During this period he learned to farm from locals running small herds of cattle, a few angora goats and planting hay and wheat. He and Patricia became proficient at making smoked venison sausage in the local German Hill Country style. He built a hangar and airstrip on his property- “HM Ranch”. He and Patricia designed and built a house on the farm. Helmut remained busy with farming and various projects. He was always working on airplanes, Mercedes diesel cars, tractors, and even a bulldozer. Family vacations consisted of adventuresome flying vacations to Baja, Yucatan, and Guatemala. In 1979, Helmut and Patricia divorced. They remained amiable for the remainder of their lives attending family holiday functions and the activities of their grandchildren Courtney Oubre of Louisiana and Elisabeth, Erich, and Peter Meinig of Colorado. The 1980s was a turbulent domestic period for Helmut as he had 2 brief marriages. He began revisiting Bavaria during this time and continued annual trips to Munich and Schliersee until he was 81 years old. Helmut lived alone with his dogs He also rediscovered skiing in the mid 1980’s. He had an annual “Bavarian Ski Week” for many years in which he skied with his childhood friends and family in Colorado. He retired from skiing after the 2006 season. In 1980, his sister Christa and her husband Ernst built a house on a parcel of land adjacent to Helmut. For more than 20 years, Helmut enjoyed the company of his sister, brother in law, and nephew Ernst, Jr. He constant companions were his beloved dogs - German Shepherds, Rhodesian Ridgebacks and a long series of Rotweilers.

In 2001, he surprised everyone when he sold most of his beloved farm. He had retired from flying in 1996 and the rigors of farming were increasingly taxing from a physical point of view. Christa and Ernst were also spending part of the year in Bavaria so he was increasingly alone. He evolved into a classic “Opa” in his 60’s. He enjoyed visits with grandchildren Courtney in Louisiana and Elisabeth, Erich, and Peter in Colorado. He settled in Colorado Springs and not in the countryside as expected. He kept his beloved Mercedes diesel car but quickly embraced the Colorado lifestyle with a Subaru, snow blower and several sets of skis. His Colorado years were characterized by his continued independence and his constant companion Rotweiler “Kojak”. Helmut loved technology and was constantly buying PC’s, laptops, and smartphones. Opa was constant feature in the Meinig household. He taught Elisabeth, Erich, and Peter how to drive with the patience and technical acumen of a former instructor pilot! Opa was insistent on maintaining his independence. For the last 11 years of his life continued to live alone with the devoted help of Betty and other care givers that she supervised. He gradually declined in terms of mobility but continued to be an integral participant in family gatherings. In his last few years he remained cheerful and amiable as his memory failed. He enjoyed family breakfasts of Weiswurst, leberkas, sussersenf, and plum pastry. He enjoyed watching German news and programs with Peter in his final years. He maintained contact with his Bayerisch friends Hansi, Eva, and Brosi with frequent telephone calls. Courtney, Elisabeth, Erich, and Peter were sources of joy as were visits from Kim and son in law Dan. Opa was close to daughter in law Kathy who was a fixture in his life since he moved to Colorado.

Opa died peacefully on August 13, 2023 in his home surrounded at the bedside with family members. He is survived by son Richard and wife Kathy, daughter Kimberly and husband Dan, grandchildren Courtney, Elisabeth, Erich, Peter, niece Eva Schoenfeldt, and nephew Ernst Schoenfeldt.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Swan-Law.com for the Meinig family.