James J Hellmich

James Joseph Hellmich (Jim) had a change of address to his heavenly home on November 7, 2021, after watching the Green Bay Packers game. A lifetime Packers fan, he was born March 26, 1942 to Frank and Irene Hellmich. Brother to the late Paul Hellmich and Thomas Hellmich. Devoted husband for 57 years to Judith (Borden) Hellmich. Father of Jim Hellmich (Dawn), Chris Hellmich (Lauren), and Sara (Hellmich) Hadgraft (George). Papa to Chris Hellmich, Michael Hellmich, Nate Hellmich, Finn Hellmich, Hannah (Dungan) McCord (Jay), Emma Grace Dungan, and Tate Dungan. Great grandfather to Jameson McCord.

Jim grew up on the south side of Milwaukee and attended Don Bosco High School and Marquette University. While studying at Marquette, he met his wife Judith at a sorority function. Jim and Judith married on September 12, 1964. They drove from Milwaukee to Miami and flew to Jamaica for their honeymoon. A Distinguished Military Student and Graduate of the Army ROTC program and awarded to only one student each year, Jim joined the Army as a 2nd lieutenant in 1965. Following his tour of duty, he joined Ford Motor Company and Jim and Judith moved to Grosse Pointe, Michigan. After receiving his MBA from Wayne State University, Jim was promoted to roles with increasing responsibility. As an accountant, he focused on the intricacies of government accounting. Jim worked closely with Ford Aerospace, a supplier to the US government based in California. He would arrange to work in California during the summer, affording the family several cross-country road trips. In 1988, he moved to California and Ford Aerospace full-time, joining Lockheed Martin post-merger. He became a Certified Public Accountant in California. While living in both Michigan and California, Jim taught undergraduate and graduate finance classes part-time at night. After retiring as a Director of Accounting from Lockheed in 1997, he continued to work as a consultant and began teaching graduate level finance classes for the University of Phoenix. In 2006, Jim and Judith moved from Laguna Niguel, California to Hoover, Alabama to be closer to their daughter Sara, and her children.

Jim was devoted to his wife. They traveled widely together and they enjoyed annual family vacations. His mother and Judith passed on a passion for Christ. Jim read his Bible daily and longed to join his Savior. He also had several other pleasures in life. He enjoyed watching football and trying to outsmart the stock market. He adopted the Alabama Crimson Tide as his college team, and always remained loyal to his Green Bay Packers. But most of all, he reveled in hearing about the success of his children and grandchildren, and adoring Judith whom he called “his beauty girl”.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, January 29, 2022 in Birmingham, AL. Donations in Jim’s memory can be made Wounded Warriors Project.