HELWIG, Robert Edward

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Saturday, July 09, 2011 Robert Edward Helwig, 93, of Prescott, Ariz., born Aug. 21, 1917, in Los Angeles, Calif., passed away July 7, 2011, in Prescott. The original spelling of his last name was Helweg, but it changed when the Navy made a typo in 1934. Bob's parents were Joe "Pops" Helweg and Josephine Gallegos. Bob had an older sister, Joan Klienstruber, and his twin sister, Margaret "Chicky" Kendrick. Bob joined the Navy in 1934, serving in both the Pacific and Atlantic fleets in the years prior to World War II as a Fireman First Class. After the Navy, Bob worked as a stationary boiler operator for the Santa Fe Railroad in L.A. and later worked for Amtrak, for a total of well over 40 years. Bob was a devoted, beloved family man. He had a special charm about him and a great sense of humor. He enjoyed dancing and liked traveling to Catalina Island. In later years, Bob moved to Prescott, where he lived with son-in-law Jim Ferris and daughter Bobbie. Bob is survived by a stepdaughter, Beverly "Bennie" Nichols, and two daughters, Carol Ann Spencer and Roberta "Bobbie" Helwig-Ferris. There are four grandchildren, Rob Spencer, Gary Knesnik, Laura Brown and Alex Knesnik; one great-grandson, Aaron Spencer; one great-granddaughter, Veronica Spencer; and one step-great-granddaughter, Britney Anndriana Spencer. Carmella Le Pore was his life companion for many years. Graveside services with military honors will be 11 a.m. Thursday, July 14, 2011, at the Arizona Pioneers' Home Cemetery, 1300 Iron Springs Road, Prescott, Ariz. Services entrusted to Heritage Memory Mortuary. Please visit www.heritagefuneralchapels.com to sign Bob's online guestbook. Information provided by survivors.