James H. Helmer

Rest in Peace, Jim. I was googling my name and came across your obituary. It seems we had a lot in common. I overcame, and I'm so terribly sorry you weren't able to. I wish I had known you to try and help, to be a friend. I'll be praying for you and your family. God bless and rest your soul, Sir. James Helmer, Sarasota, FL

I am so very sorry for the loss of your son. Thank you for having the courage to disclose his disease. I believe it is so important. I too, lost my daughter, who was 20, to heroin, five years ago. May they all find the peace they so desperately searched for.
Cheryl Heckel Waterloo, WI

May your family find peace in knowing he is not in turmoil anymore.I hope you will have many beloved memories with him to comfort you. Deb Edwards Dousman, wi.

May the Lord wrap you in his arms and provide comfort to your family and friends during this difficult time. I don't know James or your family but am especially grateful that you are brave enough to tell his story. I hope that those words bring encouragement to others trying to quit addiction. RIP James

We are friends of Tony and Darlene Igl. We are sooo sorry to hear of this tragic death. To the mom, our hearts and prayers go out to you in love and concern. Richard and Cherrie Larson

'm so sorry for the loss of your son. There has been far to many lives lost to addition but you had the courage to disclose why you lost your son and I applaud you for that. Usually it is just stated, "Died suddenly at home" and others know it was because of addition that took there life. Maybe somehow in a little way it can help someone else that this is real and this can happen. I know your struggles because my son had an addition to prescription pills three and a half years ago. I tried to get him help by calling Juneau and getting names of places to call to get him in for help. They were full or there was a waiting list to get in. Talked to police officers and I even got a hold of the State of Wisconsin for information. And what I found was nothing or a drug addict is suppose to take medication for withdrawals but I was told that I would have to be with him for so many days 24/7 until it kicked in. That means bathroom, shower, sleep etc. I received a call at work from my daughter that my son attempted to commit suicide. The next day my daughter and I tried again to make numerous phone calls to get my son help. I knew it was a matter of time for him. Three and a half years ago medical personnel viewed opiates as not life threatening but I tend to disagree. No place to turn but to the yellow pages and we found and talked to a person at the "Watershed" in Lake Worth Florida. They saved his life by accepting him and with his determination he has been clean for three and half years. We need more help for addicts in Wisconsin including drug treatment facility and halfway housing to keep them on track during there recovery time. Because you can send them for 90 days of treatment but if they come back to the same environment and same friends they are just going in circles. Our thoughts are with you. Deb and RJ Storm, Beaver Dam, WI

Chandel- My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I am so very sorry for the loss of your brother.

Gretchen - My sincerest sympathy on the loss of your son. Am sending prayers and good thoughts to you as well as to your family. Mary Kotek, Beaver Dam, WI

I am so sorry for your loss,it is a hole in you that you can never fill.Our deepest Sympathy is with you and your family at this time.

This Obituary was written by someone that loved James very much. It takes a strong person to admit that her son lost his life to an addiction. So many young adults just don't realize what this drug does to them, they keep chasing something that is not there. The more they use, the more they need more. I am proud of you for trying to help others, even parents to deal with exactly what this is: an addiction with no boundaries.

I don't know you but I'm praying for you.

May peace be with you all. No matter how you lost your son (mine died in Feb this year in a car accident) they will always be your baby. Peace to your family.

I'm so sorry for your loss it must be very difficult for you to know that you're loved one starting out to be a prescription Junkie for I too and my prescription Junkie but I have taking myself off all of the drugs they have put me on I feel your loss I know it must be very hard to accept God bless you I feel your pain

Thank you for sharing the truth on how your love one lost his battle in life. May you be Blessed with Love and Comfort. Knowing your pain about this addition and how it takes a Loving Person Away.

I do not know you but I truly am Thankful for being honest about this terrible addiction. I hope others will read your message and seek help as needed. I will pray for you and your family for this sad tragedy you endure today. May God help you through this very difficult time. If I can help in any way please contact me.

This is a very brave and impressive obituary. I am a RN that worked at a detox facility in Chippewa Fall, WI and ow at a crisis center in Idaho Falls, ID. Work daily with people suffering with mental health and addiction issues. Not many people can be as honest as you have been. I can only hope that your honesty can be helpful to others with this disease. I am so sorry for your loss but thankful for your willingness to share the truth. Your honesty and willingness to share helps bring awareness to the world of addiction and that it is not a conscious decision and people do lose everything due to the hold these substances have on the body and mind. Thoughts and prayers with you and your family. Although extremely difficult hopefully you can all find a way to move forward with your lives knowing that he is no longer suffering and fighting his demons.

I am so sorry for your loss. Very difficult memorial to write but so brave to put his struggle out there. Thank you for your courage and many blessings as you and your family as you move forward.

I am very sorry for your loss. I did not know Jim. But I can feel your pain. God be with you.

My love and prayers to you and yours during this very painful time. I hope the outpouring of love here, shows just how loved James and family are, even by strangers like me. My sorrow belongs to you this weekend, and I will think of James often. Thank you so much for sharing your story. Bravery like yours doesn't come often. I hope everyone understands how difficult it is to fight painkiller, and heroin especially, addiction. How hard it is on the family and the addicted. Blessings to all of you for your bravery.

I did not know James nor do I know you, his family. Please know how brave you are to be so forthright about the way James died. It is easy in the throes of grief to opt for euphemisms such as "died unexpectedly." Addiction is a terrible thing. I do not have to tell you how it ravages families. May you find comfort in the good memories you have of James and may he, finally, rest in peace.

Your son is reaching so many in his death, you have done a wonderful thing by sharing his and your painful story. I think I know someone related to you and my son-in-law also raced in Jefferson.
We are all connected. I pray for peace and comfort for you all, and also for your message to go far and wide.

So very sorry for your loss. Thank you for encouraging others to get help. Peace to James.

We are deeply saddened by the loss of James. We have so many wonderful memories of him and we pray he has found everlasting peace.

My wife and I have such heavy hearts hearing about this news. Like others, we haven't seen James in a long time. But we will always remember him as a man with a good and kind soul. I personally will remember the years when he was like and older brother to me.

I also believe that addiction often haunts people who feel the most. I believe James is at peace now and pray for his family that they can find peace someday as well.

So sorry for your loss!!! We lost our son to heroin on 1/11/16. Just remember no more pain no more suffering! We will pray for you!!! Pete & Brenda McDonald

Prayers for family! Our Deepest Sympathy...

I didn't know James, and I don't know your family, but my heart is so broken right now. May God envelop James in his arms as he walks through the threshold of Heaven's gate, and bring him to peace. May you all find comfort and assurance in knowing that you will one day be joined together with James, and will never again know pain or suffering. My prayers are with you.

My deepest sympathies to the family, my heart goes out to you. It is a very sad story but too often too often a story that repeats itself to often.

Peace to James and his Family. We have experienced the same. God Bless. Tom & Linda Schmidt, Juneau

Blessed be my heart goes out to you

Very inspiring story,thank you show much for sharing it in such a sad time. I hope people read this and realize what a slippery slope you can get in. Again from my family to yours my condolences

Hate that he had to struggle so hard, hope you all find the peace I believe he has found.

Gretchen and family we are so sorry to hear of your loss. Praying he found peace and no more pain. God bless all of you as you go through the sad time you have ahead of you. Our Sympathy

Chandel, Gretchen and Heather I am so sorry for the loss of your brother and son. I remember James as a bright young boy with a smile that lights up the world. I know how hard addiction is I see it almost daily. These are good people that have a very serious problem with addiction. We need to all pray that we can fight this drug problem that is out there. No one is 100% exempt from being one of its prisoners. God bless you all.

My heart is hurting so bad right now, hurting for your loss. I have heard the words of despair to stop the pain, words no Mother should ever here. I pray your son is at rest now, and you find comfort knowing he is no longer in pain. Thank you for sharing your son's story. You are an inspiration, I believe you have touched others with with James story.

Thank you for leaving such a powerful message. I remember his name from racing at Jefferson. My step daughter is battling the same addiction. I commend you for your bravery in putting the message out there and I'm sincerely sorry for your loss. God bless.

I am so sorry for your loss. James sounds like he was a really neat person. By telling about the hold that drugs had on him, sharing may help someone who fighting with an addiction. I have seen what it does to a person who has a loved one going through it. My prayer and thoughts are with James family and friends.

Thoughts, and Prayers.

My heart goes out to all of you. There are so many questions that will always remain unanswered. He is at peace. May your wonderful memories and loving thoughts caring you thru these very trying times. God's speed to everyone. Diana Manegold

I am so very very sorry for your loss. I am not originally from Wisconsin but did live in Beaver dam. To do this brave obituary when you are grieving who was obviously a smart sweet son father friend with a beautiful smile so that ithers lives can be saved. Its a war that has to be fought because too many people in suburbs and small towns will not believe it can happen to them. But it There are senior citizens using heroin after being on pain meds for 30years. We know now but as recent as 10 years ago nobody knew they could get addicted. The dr gived you blood pressure meds you take it. Gives you pain med you don't question it. I am sorry for this being so long but I have seen too much sadness and grief. Bless you amazingly brave family for doing this and may gods arms be wrapped around you to comfort you during this darkedt hour

Gretchen, I am so sorry for your loss. I remember he was always such a happy little boy! I know that words can never help with the plan now but the way you were so honest with the problems he had hopefully it will be able to help another family down the road from this horrible addition! My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family now and into the coming days!!

Thank you for sharing your son's battle. I'm so sorry it ended this way. My prayers and my heart go out to James' family.

Thank you for your honesty....May God Bless you and your family!

Sending all my love and prayers! Though years seperated us for a while you all have always been in my heart always. I hope that James found the peace he could not find before and that his story may help another suffering with the same or similar issue.

You always had the biggest smile. I haven't seen you in a long time. However you will be missed. Sorry to the family for their loss.

love you gretchen, chandel, heather

So very sorry for your loss. Many thoughts and prayers for you and your family.

Sending prayers of comfort....

Hello, My name is Judy Boehnen. I don't know this young man or his family. I haven't lost a son from addiction, but I lost one due to a bicycle van accident in 1990. My son would 40 now. I just want to give you my deepest sympathy. Losing a child is the most unbearable thing I have had to deal with. My prayers go out to the family. The hole in your hearts will never go away but coping with it will get easier. I believe that Jesus will carry you through it because he did me. Have faith and keep looking at our Savior. Love in Christ, Judy Boehnen

Will Miss You Forever Brother... Love You... Todd Diggler

I'm so sorry for your families loss. I am so beyond words right now, as I'm sure many are. I became friends with James be ause of racing, but since I walked away from that I hadn't seen James in a number of years. Je had such an infectiuous personality, you couldn't help but love the guy! Thank you also for your blunt honesty in his obituary. I'm sure that wasn't easy for you but If it helps one person, the loss of James isn't for nothing. Again, I am so sorry for your loss. We can only hope James found the peace and freedom from addiction he was searching for. Rest in peace, my friend.

May the Lord Bless You, May the Lord Keep You and May the Lord shine His face upon you and give you peace! Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Chandel and family, My heart hurts when I think of your loss. I hope my words can convey my deepest sympathy to you and yours. You are all in my prayers. Fondly, Nicole Smith, Neenah, WI

My thoughts and prayers are with James 's family and wishing comfort to enter your hearts quickly.

So sorry for your loss.

Chandel, Gretchen, and family, I send prayers from my family to yours in your time of loss. We are thinking of you...

Dear the Helmer family i am sorry your loss your heart broken your son awesome he will memories all everyone

Chandel, My heart goes out to your family on your loss. I pray that good memories flood your hearts and minds as you live through this tough time. May The Lord Bless You and Keep You And Bring You Peace. You'll be in our thoughts and prayers. Love Maggie & Howard Johnson