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Thomas Joseph Helle, Jr. Obituary

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Thomas Joseph Helle, Jr.

Neptune, NJ

June 3, 1953 - May 15, 2022

Thomas Joseph Helle, Jr. Obituary

Thomas Joseph Helle, Jr. passed away on Sunday, May 15, 2022 at home surrounded by his loving family. Born in 1953, Tom was the second child of Thomas & Laurel Helle. His older sister Laurel found the word “Tom” too difficult to pronounce and simply referred to him as Gingko. Little did he know, that he would soon be followed by what could only be called an explosion of additional siblings that eventually constituted a family of seven girls and three additional boys – all of whom he loved dearly. Tom graduated from the University of Delaware in 1975 and received his commission in the US Army, assigned as an instructor to the Field Artillery School at Ft Sill, OK. After leaving the Army in 1979, he went to work for Computer Sciences Corporation. It was there he would meet the love of his life, Rosemarie. Tom was never accused of being overly bright; it took him almost 10+years before he would marry Rosemarie. They spent the next 30+ years together, never being separated except for the occasional business trip. Together they travelled the world, visiting places like Aruba, Hawaii, Germany, Austria, Italy, Scotland and Ireland. The trips to Italy, Scotland and Ireland included up to 14 family members and proved to be an experience of a lifetime. Being an avid outdoorsman, Tom never missed an opportunity to go hunting and fishing with his son Tom, brothers, brothers-in-law, nephews and family friends. Tom’s greatest joy was his family, which included his son Tom and his family, five step children Cheryl (James Perna), Paul Stafford, George Stafford, Timothy Stafford (Yuly), and Lynn Stafford (Tony DiGioia); his grandchildren, Nicholas, JJ, Ryan, Josh, Brianna, Kayla, Dylan, Lily, Isabel, Benjamin; and great grandchildren; Chloe and Jack; all of whom brought him countless hours of joy and pride. Stories of Tom’s many talents will continue to live on in the hearts of those who loved him most. He will forever be remembered for his ability to build inappropriate snow sculptures while at a military school, speak in an Irish accent that sounds more like an inebriated pirate, and saving his little sister Anni from certain death from falling out the back of a VW bus. Tom was predeceased by his father Thomas J. Helle and brother in-law Frank Nordyk. He is survived by his precious wife Rosemarie, his son Tom (Jacqueline), his mother Laurel – the rock of the family – his seven sisters Laurel Nordyk, Kathy Welsh (Jim), Beth Stevenson (Richard), Mary Claus (Michael), Susan Montgomery (William), Anni (Sherrie), and Diane Law (Doug), three brothers Bob (Lisa), Joe, and Jim (Mary). A memorial gathering will be held on Thursday, May 19, 2022 from 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM at the Ely Funeral Home, 3316 Rt. 33, Neptune, NJ 07753. A 10:00 AM Memorial Mass will follow at Holy Innocents Roman Catholic Church, 3455 W Bangs Ave, Neptune City, NJ 07753. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you honor Tom’s memory by watching Die Hard every December, since it was his favorite “Christmas movie”. If this goes against your nature, donations to the American Cancer Society will be appreciated. Yippee Ki-Yay…

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