06/19/2026
Jerald F. Hellmann
Jerald F. Hellmann
October 10, 1934 – June 14, 2026
Jerald Francis Hellmann, lovingly known by family as Uncle Jerry, left this life, rather quickly, on June 14, 2026, at the age of 91, in Loveland, Ohio, with his grandson and daughter by his side. Born on October 10, 1934 in Covington, Kentucky to Evelyn and Herman Hellmann, Jerry was the younger brother of the late Mary Yvonne Napier, and is survived by his two younger sisters, Mary Diane Kaufmann and Mary Yvette Ryan.
In 1942 when Jerry was 8 years old, his family moved across the Ohio River to Rossmoyne, Ohio. Much of his childhood was overshadowed by World War II, with only older men and younger boys in the neighborhoods since vital men were fighting in the war. Nonetheless, he did enjoy time with his friends in the woods, fishing, camping, playing in the creek, and riding bikes.
Jerry was also a worker. He picked peaches for 10 cents an hour when he was 11, and in 8th grade, he set up pins in a bowling alley for 10 cents a game. When he was about 14, he worked for a company that did industrial filming and commercials for TV. He was even in a TV commercial for a soft drink at that time. He saved up enough money to by a Whizzer motorbike that he rode almost everywhere. During high school, he worked at a delicatessen for 8 hours a day. He was in school until 2:15 pm, started work at 3:00 pm, and worked until 11:00 pm, then went home to sleep, and did it all over again the next day. With the money he saved from this job, he was able to buy his first (of many, it would turn out) car. He paid $365 for a ten-year old Chevy convertible.
Jerry graduated from Purcell High School in 1952, and began working with his father in construction. In 1953, he met the love of his life, Susan Spencer, and they courted for the next 5 years. In 1957 he enlisted in the Air Force for 6 months active duty training for a ready reserve assignment. He was trained as a radio relay equipment repairman. He remained in the Air Force reserve until he was Honorably Discharged in 1963, but he never lost his love of airplanes and flying. One of his greatest joys was flying in small aircraft, and one of his greatest accomplishments was obtaining his pilots license.
Jerry and Susan were married in 1958, and they moved into a house on Indianview Drive in Miamiville that he and his father had built. He worked briefly as a draftsman at GE during this time. His first child and only son, Dane, was born while they lived there. In his spare time, Jerry worked on building a new house across the street, which took him two years. His oldest daughter, Lesle, was born in 1961, and in 1962 he began working at Ford Motor Company in Sharonville, OH. He started as a draftsman there, and then moved up as an engineer. His youngest daughter, Sidney, was born in 1964. Jerry was promoted to a plant engineering supervisor, where he had responsibilities for all aspects of the physical plant and buildings. Jerry was accustomed to saving his money, and he routinely invested 10% of his pay in the stock market. This discipline allowed him to retire from Ford after 24 years of service, at the age of 53.
Jerry did not slow down after retiring though. He was the quintessential jack of all trades, but he was also a master of many. He could build and fix just about anything. He did carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and automotive building and repair. He once assembled a motorcycle from 2 bushels of parts. He also built an airplane in his garage. He fully remodeled Sidney’s basement, making part of it into a British pub. He helped his daughter Lesle build 2 log homes. He did a room addition for his neighbor. He built furniture. He fixed everything in that second home he built for his family, and he and Susan lived there for 63 years. He said he wanted his family to remember him as being a good father and provider.
Jerry/Dad/Uncle Jerry/Grandpa was one of very few men in a family with many women. Lucky for him, he adored women. He was looked up to for advice and support by many. He was a father figure to several wayward teens, and a friend to everyone. His home was always a safe haven for his kids and their friends. He and Susan always made everyone feel welcome in their home.
Over the years, he and Susan were blessed with a close circle of friends with whom they traveled, had a Bible study group, and had themed dinners. From 2004, when Susan retired, until 2020, they spent a couple of months in winter on Marco Island, which they thoroughly enjoyed. Recently, one of his greatest joys was being able to meet, hold, love and adore his great-grandson Theodore Spencer Hellmann.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Yvonne, his son Dane, and his wife Susan. He is survived by his daughters Lesle (Bob) Goodhart and Sidney Richards, his grandsons Joseph (Savannah) Hellmann and Gavin (Cassidy) Richards, many nieces and nephews, and that little boy Theodore who carries his family name into the future for him.
Services celebrating Jerry’s full life will be held at Good Shepherd Church, 8815 East Kemper Road, Cincinnati, OH 45249, on Thursday, June 25, 2026. Visitation will take place from 10:45-11:45 AM, followed by Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at noon. According to his wishes, his remains were cremated.
Jerry asked that this poem be included in his funeral service, and any remembrance.
HIGH FLIGHT
by John Gillespie Magee, Jr.
Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings.
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds – and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of – wheeled and soared and swung,
High in the sunlit silence. Hovering there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I’ve topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew.
And, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
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