My name is Franz Helpenstell, but most people call me Bud. I was born on September 4th, 1933, in Moline, Illinois.  My father was Dr. Fred Helpenstell.  He was a dentist. My mother was Charlotte Huesing Helpenstell.  She had been a teacher, but in those days when a woman got married, she had to quit her job and have her husband support her.

We lived in Rock Island, Illinois and some of my favorite things to do as a boy with my older brother Fred were to fish, hunt, and campout overnight.  My folks built a home on 22nd ½ Avenue.  I recall that the basement was dug with a team of mules.  We lived there until WWII started.  Dad was then assigned to Camp Crowder, Missouri.

We moved back to Rock Island when I was in the 7th grade. I met my best friend Ron while we were at Washington Jr High School.  We are still good friends.  I began driving a truck for my Uncle Bert Huesing when I was about 15.  I drove an old GMC with a wooden steering wheel!

After graduating from Rocky High, I attended Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa.  It was there that I met Esta Wetterholm at a picnic, and it truly was love at first sight.  Just after our wedding I received my MSA from the University of Iowa.  I was soon drafted into the Army, and we went to Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri.  Janet and Eric were born there.

When we moved back to Rock Island, I went to work in the bottling business for my Uncle Bert.  Everything was in full depth cases, so the glass bottles weighed a ton.  After several years our daughter Amy was born. She died just before her 33rd birthday.  She had anorexia and died of a heart attack.  I still miss her very much.

I was President of A.D. Huesing Corporation, the Pepsi Cola bottling company in Rock Island and loved going to work every day.  Esta and I really enjoyed our life in Rock Island. We especially liked going on family fishing trips to Minnesota and visiting my brother and his family in Nampa, Idaho.  In later years we traveled all over, visiting England, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Russia, Estonia, Alaska, and the beautiful island of Kauai.

Esta passed away suddenly in 2011.  I miss her every day.   In 2013 I came out to Corvallis, Oregon to see Eric and Bonnie for a two-week vacation, but loved my visit so much I moved out.  I moved into Stoneybrook Lodge and had a nice corner apartment with a deck.  I've looked forward to visits from Janet and her family in recent years and love spending time with Eric's family here in Corvallis.  My favorite thing to do is take a ride down to Finley Wildlife Refuge to see the geese and wildlife and to catch a burger, fries and a chocolate shake on the way home.

My life lesson - Take each day as it comes and be thankful that you're here.

That is my story.

Bud passed away peacefully on June 20, 2023, in Corvallis, Oregon.  He was very involved in his community, serving as a director and chairman on many boards including:  Rock Island Jaycees, Rock Island Chamber of Commerce Board, Illinois State Chamber of Commerce, Rock Island Family YMCA, Augustana College Board of Trustees, Trinity Health Foundation Board, Rock Island Public Library Foundation Board, Rock Island Kiwanis Board, the Development Association of Rock Island, St. James Lutheran Church Council, the AD Huesing Corporation and the Amy Helpenstell Foundation. Bud was a devoted member of St. John's Lutheran Church, Rock Island.  He was also a prominent leader within the bottling industry, serving with the Illinois Soft Drink Association, the National Independent Pepsi Bottlers Assoc., WP Beverages and Wis-Pak Inc.

Bud was honored throughout his lifetime as a Community First Quad-Citians - 1994, King of the Rock Island Mardi Gras Charity Ball - 2004, Mayor's Civic Award and Keys to the City of Rock Island - 2008 and was Rock Island Citizen of the Year in 2012.  October 13, 2008, was proclaimed by the Mayor of Rock Island to be Bud and Esta Helpenstell Day.

Bud is survived by his son Eric Helpenstell and wife Bonnie, granddaughters Emily Helpenstell and husband James Cogle, and Lily McFadden and husband Brian McFadden; and his daughter Janet Strunk and her husband Bruce Strunk, granddaughter Eryka Driscoll and grandson Sam Doak and wife Kari Doak.  Bud has five great-grandchildren.

There will be a private service and ceremony officiated by the Rev. Stacie Fidlar, a bishop of the ELCA.  Arrangements are being handled by Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, Rock Island, Illinois.

In lieu of flowers please make a contribution in remembrance to Habitat for Humanity Quad Cities, the Benton Community Foundation in Corvallis, Oregon, or a non-profit organization of your choice.