John M. Helmeyer, 92, died on July 11, 2017 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center.

Born in the City of Poughkeepsie on November 10, 1924, he was the son of Martin J. Helmeyer and Josephine Van Vlack Helmeyer. The family moved to Diddell Road in the Town of Wappinger in 1927, and John has resided there ever since. John attended grade school in New Hackensack and graduated from Wappingers Central High School.

After graduating from Wappingers Central High School, John went to work for Lucky Platt Department Store in Poughkeepsie. In 1951, he started working at IBM as a Manger in Electronic Build of Test Equipment in East Fishkill. In 1970, he became an IBM Auditor for its vendor, East Fishkill Consigned Tooling and Equipment, at their supply locations throughout the entire US. He was responsible for the location and movement of these assets with a value of over $400 million at 170 different locations. This required him to travel 105-110 days a year. John retired from IBM in 1985 after a 34 year career.

John and Beatrice purchased a house in Port Charlotte, FL in 1986 and lived there from November to April every year until 1999.
He joined the New Hackensack Reformed Church in March 1940, and has been an active member to this day. He was the Historian for the Church and also for the cemetery located in New Hackensack. He catalogued all of the old Church historical records from 1758 to present, into 29 volumes which he had rebound into hard cover books.

In 1994, he became very interested in his ancestry and did genealogy research and found out his family came to this country in 1624. He then joined the following societies and associations: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution; Empire State Sons of the American Revolution (Membership 1500) where he was elected to the Empire State Board of Managers for seven years from 2002-2009; Columbia-Mid-Hudson Valley Chapter S.A.R. where he served as President in 2003,2004, and 2005; New York State Branch of the National Society Sons and Daughters of Pilgrims; Dutch Settlers Society of Albany; Schoonmaker Family Association (Membership 300) where he served as President in 2001, 2002 and 2003; Huguenot Historical Society, East Fishkill Historical Society where he served as Treasurer for 7 years; and the Van Vlack Family Association (Membership 100) where he served as Treasurer from 1993-2001 and President from 2001-2005.

On June 22, 1946 at the New Hackensack Reformed Church, John married Beatrice R. Reid, who survives at home. He is also survived by his brother, Robert Helmeyer of Hadley; his nephews and their wives, John and Kim Helmeyer of Stanfordville, and Harold and JoAnn Helmeyer of Stormville; and his niece and her husband, Sue Ann and John Tasselmyer of Hadley.

John’s family would like to thank Dr. Fischer and his staff in the Oncology Department at Caremount, and Hospice of the Hudson Valley for all of their care and support.

Calling hours will be held on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9pm at the McHoul Funeral Home, Inc., 895 Route 82, Hopewell Junction. Interment will be held on Saturday at 10 a.m. at Hopewell Cemetery, 143 Beekman Road, Hopewell Junction. The Funeral Service will follow at 11 a.m. at New Hackensack Reformed Church, 1580 Route 376, Wappingers Falls.

John and Beatrice established a fund for the New Hackensack Reformed Church through the Community Foundation. Memorial donations may be made to the John and Beatrice Helmeyer Fund, c/o Community Foundation, 80 Washington Street #201, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601. Please visit John’s Book of Memories at www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.