Hans Richard Frantz Helland

Before moving to San Antonio, Hans spent his first years in Beeville, Texas. He graduated from Alamo Heights High School in 1969 where he played Varsity Football. He then graduated from The University of Texas where he majored in Economics and subsequently completed an MBA. He also played on the Texas Longhorn Football Team, following in the footsteps of his great-grandfather, and was proud to play on the 1970 National Championship team coached by Darrell Royal. He was a member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity and found that KA fraternity songs could substitute as lullabies when he had children later in life. Hans was a lifelong Longhorn and loved supporting his alma-mater.

After college, Hans worked as a banker in Fort Worth at Fort Worth National Bank, and then in NYC at Marine Midland Bank, where he made lifelong friends. In 1982, he moved back to San Antonio to work in his fathers oil and gas company, Inland Ocean, Inc., eventually becoming president on the death of his father. He met his beautiful wife Catherine Morris through The German Club and they married on August 13, 1983. They were blessed with two children, Sarah and Will. He supported Catherine up and down the sidelines of many soccer games, and then transferred that support to his children for many more years of soccer games. He achieved his goal of watching correctly executed soccer when he became a die-hard Manchester United fan, though oftentimes they didnt even meet his standards.

Hans was proud of his Norwegian and English heritage, and always dreamed of traveling to meet distant relatives. He and Catherine did venture to England, and Israel in the years prior to his illness with some of his dearest friends. Seeing Jerusalem and the Churchill War Room were highlights. He was a kind and generous man, a caregiver, and was known for being hardworking, humble, and a good dancer. He loved animals and babies, and they loved him too.

Very generous with his time and talents, Hans participated in many clubs. He was a member of The Texas Cavaliers, The San Antonio German Club, The Order of the Alamo, The San Antonio Country Club, The Balcones Energy Library, and The Petroleum Club. He especially loved driving a barge in the San Antonio River Parade with his best friend David Straus, III. He also spent many years following his passion for conserving and protecting the Edwards Aquifer by working on the Edwards Aquifer Water Board with his partner in crime, Carol Patterson, whom he was so proud of.

In his remaining free time Hans volunteered as an usher at St. Lukes Episcopal Church. Through his 20-year tenure he met many wonderful people - Hans made dear friends wherever he went.

Growing up, Hans enjoyed many skiing vacations at Crested Butte. Always an avid athlete, he and Catherine worked out from the day they first dated to only months before he passed. They ran together, hiked together, aqua jogged together, and over the last years committed to daily spin workouts at Joy Ride Studio, now AMP Studio, at the Pearl. They loved their Joy Ride community and will be forever thankful for the support they received there.

Hans loved his daily routines, especially going to Mila Coffee and getting lemonade and pastries at Larder. Whenever he traveled, he quickly found the best bakery within a mile radius.

Since October 2021, Hans battled an untreatable brain tumor, and due to the effects of the aggressive disease, was unable to accept visitors, much to our regret. He died at the age of 70 on May 28, 2022, in the comfort of his home in San Antonio surrounded by his wife and children who were his caregivers through his final illness. He fought valiantly and wanted to make sure his family was taken care of.

His family is thankful for the support of many people including his doctors, especially Dr. John Galan, his hospice team from River City Hospice including his nurses, Randall and Amanda, his sister Sally Helland, sister-in-law Hannah Morris, brother-in-law James Morris and his wife Sally, and his mother-in-law Lillian Morris.

Hans was preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Patty Helland and his father-in-law, Robert Morris. He is survived by his wife Catherine; his two children Sarah and Will; his three sisters, Sally, Suzanne, and Teresa; and numerous beloved nieces and nephews.

Funeral service will be held Friday, June 3, 2:00pm, at St. Lukes Episcopal Church, 11 St. Lukes Ln, Alamo Heights, TX, 78209. Please click here to view a recording of Mr. Helland's service. In his honor, please go buy a cup of coffee at Mila Coffee on Broadway across from the former Buttercrust Bakery, send a donation to St. Lukes Episcopal Church or to another charity of your choice.

Please sign the guestbook in his memory. We especially welcome any happy memories you have of him.