Charles H. Helmen, MD

The Helmen family is grieving the loss of our patriarch Dr. Charles Hayn (Chuck) Helmen, age 92 who died on September 5, 2021. To leave it at that would be to bury the lede. Chuck was a devoted husband, a loving and giving father, grandfather and great- grandfather; a generous philanthropist, a master carpenter, a decent bridge player, a terrible golfer, a physician and a veteran. Dad was born on March 19, 1929 in South Bend Indiana to Charles A. Helmen and Agnes (Hayn) Helmen. A precocious youth, Dad enrolled at Indiana University at the age of 16 eventually graduating from its School of Medicine. He met the love of his life Marion (Shafer) Helmen while completing his residency in Denver Co. He swept her off her feet (or was it the other way around?) and brought her to Indiana. They were married on February 20, 1955. They spent the first two years of their marriage in Tripoli Libya where Dad served as a Captain in the Air Force. Dad spent the first half of his career working in academic medicine giving back to future doctors who remained grateful to him. He then went into private practice as a radiologist at St. Francis Hospital. Mom and Dad loved to travel the world, enjoyed great food and wine, appreciated fine art, and passionately attended IU sporting events (including 3 national championship games!). They spent every possible moment in the summers at Lake Wawasee which was Mom’s happy place. He is survived by 5 children, Randall C. Helmen, Kim Helmen Luber (John), Joan Helmen Mercer (Jay), Caryn Helmen Sundling (Steve) and Matt B. Helmen (Megan) as well as many grandchildren and great grandchildren all of whom adored him. Dad wasn’t always easy to like but very easy to love. He and Mom spent their entire lives together raising and nourishing their children. He left us wanting for nothing. Mom died much too young in 2007 and Dad never really got over that. We want to thank the Connie Earle family as Connie was a cherished companion of Dad’s after Mom’s death. As an aside, Dad died of COVID pneumonia even though he took every precaution to avoid the virus. Please get vaccinated. A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, September 26, 2021 from 2pm to 4pm at Leppert Mortuary Nora, 740 E. 86th St., Indianapolis, IN. In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to Meals on Wheels, 708 E. Michigan Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202 (https://mealsonwheelsindy.org/ ). To share a memory or condolence, please visit www.leppertmortuary.com.