Thomas R. Hellmich

Thomas Roell Hellmich, age 96, passed away peacefully on January 13, 2025, at St. Andrew’s Health Campus in Batesville, Indiana. He was born to Maurice and Naomi (nee Roell) Hellmich, on October 27, 1928. Tom married Joan (nee Oswald) Hellmich on November 19, 1954, at St. Louis Catholic Church in Batesville. Tom is survived by his daughter Beth (Fiancé John A. Ertel) Williams of Batesville; his son Tom (Cara) Hellmich of Carmel, IN; granddaughters Jessica (Russell) Roeder of Batesville; Alyssa (Fiancé Noah Delumpa) Hellmich of Carmel, IN; grandsons Kent Williams of Denver, CO and Harrison Hellmich of Carmel, IN; great-granddaughter Emmeline. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Sondra ‘Sue’ Hill; and his wife, Joan Hellmich. Visitation is Friday, January 24, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. - 11:40 a.m. at Weigel Funeral Home in Batesville. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place Friday, January 24, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. at the Sisters of St. Francis Chapel in Oldenburg. The burial will immediately follow at St. Louis Cemetery in Batesville, with military graveside rites being conducted by the Ripley County V.F.W. Post #3183 and by the Prell-Bland American Legion Post #271 of Batesville. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Louis Catholic Church or The Sisters of St. Francis, Oldenburg, IN. Online condolences can be made at www.weigelfh.com. Tom’s early years were filled with many adventures including everything from playing Cowboys and Indians in his backyard to playing sports on his high school tennis and basketball teams. In 1944, he earned his Eagle Scout ranking with the Boy Scouts of America. In 1949, he graduated from Kemper Military Academy in Booneville, Missouri and then earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1952, which also created one of the Fighting Irish’s greatest football fans, who told everyone, “If you cheer for Notre Dame, you will go directly to Heaven.” After college, Tom served his country in the United States Air Force during the Korean War from 1952 to 1956, but that didn’t stop him from marrying Joan, the love of his life, in 1954 - a beautiful marriage that lasted 63 years until her death. In 1956, Tom began his career with Batesville Casket Company and was one of the first sales representatives inducted into the prestigious BCC Masters Club in 1973. He retired in 1997 with many personal friendships that initially started as business relationships. Tom fulfilled his childhood dreams of becoming a lifelong cowboy starting in the summer of 1950 when he worked as a trail guide at the Hobby Horse Guest Ranch in Estes Park, Colorado. In 1966, he purchased his first horse and continued to own horses the rest of his life. He was a member of the Ripley County Saddle Club and spent many weekends riding the trails of Versailles State Park with his family and friends. Tom saddled up for his last ride at age 85 and bought his last horse at age 95 for his family to ride, but also for him to simply enjoy seeing multiple horses on his “home on the range” at Timbervale because he wholeheartedly agreed with and often quoted Winston Churchill who said, “The outside of a horse is good for the inside of man.” For 40 years, Tom hosted the Annual Timbervale Pistol Match on his private shooting range - an all-day invitational event complete with award ceremony and pitch-in dinner for his family and close friends, who traveled from as far as Canada and Hawaii to compete. Over his lifetime, Tom made countless friends around Batesville and at his second home on Hilton Head Island where he was always quick to ask everyone who came to visit, “How ‘bout a beer?” Tom was deeply devoted to God, his Catholic faith, and regularly attended Mass his entire life. He was incredibly loving and forever committed to his family, always putting their needs first and spending every spare moment creating lasting memories of our life together. Thank you for everything, Dad (a.k.a. Ahha). We love you.

Thomas R. Hellmich

October 27, 1928 - January 13, 2025