Daniel J. Helwig, 66, went home to his eternal resting place in God’s heaven on Sunday, August 27, 2017 while working at his lake home in Mikana, WI.  Dan loved spending time “up north” with family and friends being close to nature: planting and caring for the yard, watching birds at the birdfeeders & photographing the eagles soaring in flight over the lake.  Building his latest creation, the “hut” (a treehouse) where he played the wolf to his little grandsons (the piggies) took hours of design, planning & construction to which he fondly said “ain’t no little job we can’t make big”.   He was the best husband, dad, grandpa, gramps, grampy, and papa a family could ever have–truly the rock of our family.  He was never too tired or busy to pitch the ball, get drenched with water from squirting devices of all kinds, blow bubbles or give pontoon rides pulling a tube of smiling passengers begging to go faster.  He never ran out of patience when others would have none left.

Dan was born November 15, 1950 to Frank and Anne (Snaza) Helwig in Webster, South Dakota who later moved to Neillsville where they farmed and raised their ten children.  Dan attended grade school at St. Mary’s Catholic school in Neillsville and graduated from Neillsville High School in 1969 where he played short-stop for the baseball team and met his lifelong partner and love of his life, Sharon.  He worked at several jobs to put himself through college to become an Architect, which he had decided would be his vocation at an early age and truly loved what he did every day and never felt it was work.  Jobs including a production worker at a plastics factory in Elgin, IL, roofer at Stichert Roofing in Chili, WI, a DJ at WCCN in Neillsville as well as at a station in Milwaukee and as a draftsman at Gaier Construction of Neillsville proved him to be a hard-working, motivated individual who could meet any goals he set for himself.  He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from UW Milwaukee School of Architecture in 1973.

He married Sharon (Lueck) October 14, 1972 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Neillsville with his oldest brother, Father Aquinas Helwig officiating.  They lived in Milwaukee while Dan finished college before returning to central WI where Dan began employment at the Boson Co where he worked under Architect Dale Langfoss before becoming a licensed architect in the State of WI in 1977. After ten years at Boson, Dan started his own architectural office, Design Unlimited in 1984 and loved his career of designing homes and commercial buildings in Marshfield and throughout the state and Midwest. His work ethic and passion were evident in everything he did—he worked hard and played hard.  His work remains only a part of his legacy which changed the landscape of Marshfield including projects at Wildwood Park, Hackman Field, Prevention Genetics, Prairie Run Dental, Robert Kay Orthodontics, Dental Clinic of Marshfield, Abby Banks, Time Federal Savings Banks, Forward Financial Bank’s current office, First Presbyterian & Christ Lutheran Churches and many beautiful homes in which his family could not be more proud.

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Sharon,  three sons, Christopher, Curtis (Kelly) and Cory (Christina) and six grandchildren: Trenton (Felicia Ritter, mother), Easton, Evrett, Gracie, Sydney and Adelyn,  four  brothers,  Adrian of Boulder, CO,  Harry (Linda) of Rhinelander, WI, Andy (Linda)of Broomfield CO, Frank (Betty) of Fort Worth TX and three sisters, Vickie Helwig of Marshfield, WI, Anne (Dan) Hogan, and Emery Sue Helwig of Marshfield, WI,  brothers-in-law  and sisters-in-law  Linda and Mark Hemp of Neillsville, WI, Janis and Mike Truax of Northfield, MN, Donna and Scott Stejskal of Rochester, MN and  Julie Mcquade and friend Don Walker of Neillsville, WI. Dan had several nieces and nephews including his hunting and photography buddy, Logan McQuade of Neillsville, WI.

Our tears of sadness will soon turn to tears of joy – knowing how blessed we were to have had him in our life and that we will all be together again one day where there is no sadness or sorrow.

A memorial service will be held at 4:00 pm on Saturday, September 2, 2017 at Christ Lutheran Church, Marshfield, where the family will receive relatives and friends from 3:00 pm on Saturday until service time. Rev. Daryn Bahn, Rev. Andrew Wilson and Rev. Mark Krueger will officiate. Rembs Funeral Home is assisting the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Children’s Miracle Network or Marshfield Area United Way for the NOW or Keep Kids Warm programs.

Condolences may be sent online to www.rembsfh.com