Don Helmeke didn't die a rich man, but he did enrich the lives of the people he came in contact with through his generosity.
By DENNIS ANDERSON, Star Tribune
Last update: February 22, 2009 - 12:09 AM Featured comment
A Fitting Final Tribute for a Dedicated Conservationist Dennis, Thank you for giving Don such a fitting tribute. That was a wonderful gift. With that story you gave him recognition he truly … read more deserves. His dedication to wildlife conservation and waterfowl was genuine, as was his ability to spread his love and passion of it to others. He was a mentor to me in the best way and Iâ??m really going to miss him. It was Don who encouraged me to take part in a parade to circle the state capital in a fully rigged duck boat, in a show of support for the Clean Water Amendment. And he was one of the guys that passed out the orange hats that we wore in the senate chambers that helped draw the attention of the legislators in session, again in support of passage of the constitutional amendment. Iâ??m so glad he got to see that bill finally succeed, and may his input for that effort be remembered as one of his legacies. He was also one who gave so much of his own time to the Capable Partners organization, helping handicapped adults experience the joys of waterfowling. Under his watchful eye, many successful hunts were conducted, guided by his enthusiasm and expertise, and of course, his firm insistence for safety, above all else. There are many other contributions to be noted from this wonderful man, for the Minnesota Waterfowl Association, the Wood Duck Society, the Maple Grove Lake Quality Commission and others, to be sure. Iâ??m so grateful I got to see him one last time, on that same Tuesday, and was able to tell him he was a good man, and to pat his shoulder, and to let him know that weâ??d carry on his ideas until he got back. I have no doubt many of those he touched are doing so right now. Kurt Paulsen Close comment Add your own comment Register or log in to comment15 comments | See all Hide reader comments Print this story E-mail this story Save to del.icio.us Share on Facebook Share on Digg Related Content
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More from Dennis Anderson Legacy fight has winners, losers Corps values as dad and son go hunting House 'Legacy' bill embraces nonsense Dennis Anderson: Walleyes seem to be bigger near the border Livelihood fosters a lifestyle that binds Tuesday, I saw the Duckman for the last time. Friends don't really want to see friends in his condition. But there he was, frail and struggling.
Don (Duckman) Helmeke died Wednesday morning.
Duckman was like a lot of people. Except he wasn't.
He didn't have a big job. Didn't make a lot of money. And except for the style and shape of his decoys and the tone of his duck and goose calls, he didn't much care what he owned or what he didn't.
He loved his daughter, Jennifer, and son, Mike. And he loved his old dog, Scooter, whom he adopted from the pound as a puppy.
Duckman himself had been adopted, as had his late sister, Diane.
Duckman in turn adopted his children.
A volunteer's volunteer, he believed always that attempting to make things better by definition did.
When he died at the University of Minnesota Medical Center from complications of a weak heart, he was 62 years old.
Tom Westervelt
Don Helmeke didn't die a rich man, but he did enrich the lives of the people he came in contact with through his generosity.By DENNIS ANDERSON, Star Tribune
Last update: February 22, 2009 - 12:09 AM
Featured comment
A Fitting Final Tribute for a Dedicated Conservationist
Dennis, Thank you for giving Don such a fitting tribute. That was a wonderful gift. With that story you gave him recognition he truly … read more deserves. His dedication to wildlife conservation and waterfowl was genuine, as was his ability to spread his love and passion of it to others. He was a mentor to me in the best way and Iâ??m really going to miss him. It was Don who encouraged me to take part in a parade to circle the state capital in a fully rigged duck boat, in a show of support for the Clean Water Amendment. And he was one of the guys that passed out the orange hats that we wore in the senate chambers that helped draw the attention of the legislators in session, again in support of passage of the constitutional amendment. Iâ??m so glad he got to see that bill finally succeed, and may his input for that effort be remembered as one of his legacies. He was also one who gave so much of his own time to the Capable Partners organization, helping handicapped adults experience the joys of waterfowling. Under his watchful eye, many successful hunts were conducted, guided by his enthusiasm and expertise, and of course, his firm insistence for safety, above all else. There are many other contributions to be noted from this wonderful man, for the Minnesota Waterfowl Association, the Wood Duck Society, the Maple Grove Lake Quality Commission and others, to be sure. Iâ??m so grateful I got to see him one last time, on that same Tuesday, and was able to tell him he was a good man, and to pat his shoulder, and to let him know that weâ??d carry on his ideas until he got back. I have no doubt many of those he touched are doing so right now. Kurt Paulsen
Close comment
Add your own comment
Register or log in to comment15 comments | See all
Hide reader comments Print this story
E-mail this story
Save to del.icio.us
Share on Facebook
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Related Content
Active days
Don Helmke, Jimmy Robinson
Don Helmke
More from Dennis Anderson
Legacy fight has winners, losers
Corps values as dad and son go hunting
House 'Legacy' bill embraces nonsense
Dennis Anderson: Walleyes seem to be bigger near the border
Livelihood fosters a lifestyle that binds
Tuesday, I saw the Duckman for the last time. Friends don't really want to see friends in his condition. But there he was, frail and struggling.
Don (Duckman) Helmeke died Wednesday morning.
Duckman was like a lot of people. Except he wasn't.
He didn't have a big job. Didn't make a lot of money. And except for the style and shape of his decoys and the tone of his duck and goose calls, he didn't much care what he owned or what he didn't.
He loved his daughter, Jennifer, and son, Mike. And he loved his old dog, Scooter, whom he adopted from the pound as a puppy.
Duckman himself had been adopted, as had his late sister, Diane.
Duckman in turn adopted his children.
A volunteer's volunteer, he believed always that attempting to make things better by definition did.
When he died at the University of Minnesota Medical Center from complications of a weak heart, he was 62 years old.