In Memoriam: David J. Helbach (1935 – 2023)
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Long time TAPPI member David Joseph Helbach passed away on July 30, 2023, at the age of 87. Dave was a family man, a handyman and a caring man to his loved ones. He was born November 18, 1935, in the bedroom of the Helbach family farm in Lanark, WI to George and Neva “Merle” Helbach. Dave graduated from Amherst High School in 1953 and shortly after headed to the “paper valley” to begin his career in the printing and corrugated industries. He married Elizabeth “Betty” Sopa on September 20, 1958, at St. James Catholic Church. He then served in the U.S. Army in Würzburg, Germany, from 1959-1960. Between having five children with his supporting wife, Dave began, successfully managed, and eventually sold several businesses over an extensive 65 years in the corrugated converting industry.
Dave has been active with TAPPI since 1982. He has been a dedicated and long-time exhibitor for TAPPI’s Corrugated Division. He attended and participated in multiple Corrugated events from 1989 to 2015. Dave was also member of a few TAPPI local sections: Chicago TAPPI (Corrugated), Lake States/N. Central PIMA and Minnesota Local Section.
Dave’s true passion was serving others; his faith, personal life, and career allowed him to follow that passion. Work, and sometimes pleasure, took Dave on adventures around the world. Some of his fondest trips were taking all his grandkids to Europe. But he always came home to Amherst.
