Robert Francis Hellstern

Robert Francis Hellstern, aged 79, passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 9 at his residence in Arvada, Colorado. He was born September 4, 1941 in Woodstock, IL to the late Rose Mary Hill and Francis Herman Hellstern. Bob graduated from Loras College with an Accounting degree in 1963. He called himself a "visionary financial man."

Bob was married on May 6, 1972 to the love of his life, Lois Ann Hellstern, who he credits as giving him the most joy. Bob was a loyal husband, father, career-man and took his role as provider very seriously. Bob loved parties, making jokes, playing basketball and especially playing golf. He also loved to travel and spent many vacations abroad and state-side with Lois and his family.

Bob was appointed Chief Financial Officer at age 24 at St. Joseph's Hospital, Milwaukee, WI, where he met Lois, head nurse, at a budget class that he taught. She quickly became "teacher's pet" and they started dating. He wrote several manuals that were copyrighted that helped guide financial operations of hospitals for administrators and Chief Financial Officers. Bob spent the first 20 years of his career as CFO at hospitals, then spent the next 30 years as interim CFO for medical centers around the United States that were in financial difficulties. He was able to sniff out money leaks and was proud of saving many hospitals from bankruptcy. One time, he had been at his position for two weeks and found an embezzlement that had been going on for three years.

Bob was a longtime member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church and made generous contributions to the congregation.

Bob and Lois both survived a devastating roll-over car accident in 2016; Lois was hospitalized for the last four and a half years of her life because of it. Bob's love and care for Lois during this time, through visiting her at the nursing home every day, reading to her and providing for her in all the ways that he could, showed his utmost loyalty and love for his wife.

Robert will be lovingly remembered and very much missed by daughter Elizabeth Ann Hellstern (Owen William Fritts); son David Robert Hellstern; daughter Angela Ruth Hellstern (Charles Durkoop); grandson Isaac Matthias Semmelmann; sister Mary Josephine Stelzner (Charles Stelzner) and many other family and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lois Ann Hellstern; by his sister, Claire Rose Hellstern; and by his brother, Donald Paul Hellstern, as well as his parents, who are all there to welcome him for a beautiful reunion in heaven.

A celebration of his life will be on Friday, Sept. 18th, 2020.

The service will be livestreamed and can be viewed by visiting the link below:

https://www.steveweedmedia.com/roberthellstern

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Lois and Robert Hellstern Nurses Scholarship Fund at Gardens on Quail, www.gofundme.com/f/lois-bob-hellstern-future-nurses-scholarship