Paul Jay Helmuth

KALONA - Paul Jay Helmuth was born November 26, 1931, in Kalona, Iowa, the son of Peter and Barbara (Miller) Helmuth. He attended East Lincoln rural school. On December 21, 1952, Paul was united in marriage to Edith Ropp at the Fairview Mennonite Church. Paul and Edith served in IW Service in Des Moines for two years and returned to Kalona to farm the home place until his retirement. He was a farmer, carpenter and enjoyed maintaining honey bee hives. Paul was a member of the Fairview Mennonite Church where he was chorister and taught Sunday School. He was involved in MDS and taught Bible School in Kentucky and Minnesota. Paul passed away Wednesday, January 2, 2019, at Pleasantview Home in Kalona at the age of 87 years.

Paul is survived by his wife, Edith of Kalona, 5 children: Wava (Lawrence) Gingerich of Plain City, Ohio, Arlis (Loretta) Helmuth of Kalona, Keith (Laurie) Helmuth of Sarasota, Florida, Bev Helmuth of Sarasota, Florida, Curtis (Cande) Helmuth of Kalona and Doyle Helmuth of Sarasota, Florida; 10 grandchildren: Wendell (Bethany) Gingerich, Richard Gingerich, Zachary Hyman, Darin (Emily) Helmuth, Justin (Drew) Helmuth, Brandon (Kayla) Helmuth, Lance (McKenzie) Helmuth, Cierra Helmuth, Niva Helmuth, Jaimee Helmuth, Makayla Helmuth, Molly Helmuth; 4 great grandchildren: Carston Gingerich, Elliana Gingerich, Luke Gingerich, Masynn Helmuth; and a brother-in-law Leslie Hostetler of Kalona. He was preceded in death by his parents, a son Marcus, five siblings: Edgar Helmuth, Katie Yoder, Susan Yoder, Raymond Helmuth and Emma Hostetler; brothers-in-law: Paul Yoder, Sylvanus Yoder and two sisters-in-law: Bertha Helmuth and Ida Helmuth.

Funeral Service will be 2:00 pm Sunday, January 6, 2019 at the Fairview Mennonite Church in Kalona. Burial will be in the Fairview Cemetery. Visitation will be Saturday from 2-7 pm at the Yoder-Powell Funeral Home in Kalona. A memorial fund has been established for the Fairview Mennonite Church and Pleasantview Home building fund.