In loving memory of
James Helferich

• September 08, 1944
• -
• August 15, 2020

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“Jim” James Ernest Helferich
Ocala – Jim E. Helferich, 75, having bravely fought a lengthy illness,
departed from life on August 15, 2020. Now reunited with his wife of 41
years, Frances B. Helferich, who preceded him in death July of 2018.
Jim was born on September 8, 1944 to “Dutch” Ernest E. Helferich and Eva
G. Helferich in Cleveland, OH. He was a graduate of CIA – Culinary
Institute of America – and is a veteran of the United States Army.
Jim enjoyed spending time with his family, his work, and took pleasure in
tinkering around with various types of equipment and machinery. He had
an uncanny ability to resolve, rebuild and reuse even the most frustrating
and vexing of problems with parts of machinery and equipment. For him,
everything was just a puzzle waiting for a solution. It was rate that he was
unable to find one [ a solution].
Throughout his life, Jim held a lengthy career in Hospitality Management,
overseeing entire Food and Beverage Divisions. He specialized in theme
parks and worked as Food and Beverage Director all over the United
States. In Florida, he managed parks such as Sea World, The Miami Sea
Aquarium, Silver Springs, Wild Waters and Weeki Watchee. Then at
Ocean Breeze in Virginia Beach, VA and Blue Bayou Water Park in Baton
Rouge, LA.
After a successful career in Entertainment and Attraction Management,
Jim returned to his first love – food. He owned and operated a successful
catering company – Helferich Hospitality Services – a family business
which expanded to several employees who served with a focus on quality,
presentation, and overall appeal to the palate and visual aesthetic.
The lasts two years of his career, Jim accepted a position with the State of
Florida as the Food and Nutrition Director at Sumter County Correctional,
where he applied with skill a lifetime of food service experience, ensuring
that mealtimes became a more enjoyable experience than ever before.
Everyone who knew Jim fell in love with him. He was hard-working,
diligent, trustworthy, honest and kind-hearted with an overall
good-natured and generous heart that one simply doesn’t find in many
people these days.
A family man at heart, he loved them fully, completely and
unconditionally. Jim Helferich was i ncomparably the world’s g reatest
father.
Jim is survived by his precious and devoted daughter, Jessica A. Helferich,
a kind, and loving son, Tyler J. Helferich and two brothers Richard and
William Helferich.
A private ceremony was held on Friday, August 28, 2020 at Baldwin
Brothers Funeral Society in Ocala, Florida. Family strictly enforced CDC
guidelines of masks and social distancing.
If you would like to pay your respects to Mr. Helferich and Family, you
may reach his daughter by email at Jessica.A.Helferich@gmail.com .
Jim rests peacefully next to his wife, Frances B. Helferich at the Belleview
Cemetery in Belleview, Florida.