Helmar M. Ehrke, 59, of Addison, a former assistant principal at East Leyden High School in Franklin Park, died Wednesday, Sept. 12, in Essex Junction, near Burlington, Vt.
An Addison resident for 34 years, Mr. Ehrke spent more than 20 years at the school and retired in 1994. Born in Chicago, he started his career in education as a diversified occupations coordinator at West Leyden High School, where he also worked as a health occupations coordinator.
He earned an undergraduate degree in industrial education at the University of Illinois and a master’s degree in industrial education management from Northern Illinois University.
“Before going into education, he owned a construction company that he ran out of his home,” said his wife, Heidi.
Mr. Ehrke served in the Navy during the Vietnam War. He was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid and later participated in the recovery of astronauts in the Pacific Ocean during the Apollo space program.
“He had a lot of interests, including aviation,” his wife said. “He had a commercial pilot’s license and did a lot of flying out of Palwaukee and DuPage Airports.”
Known to friends as Butch, Mr. Ehrke belonged to numerous professional societies and served as a past president of the Franklin Park Rotary Club. He also was a member of the Retired Illinois Principals Association and the American Legion.
Mr. Ehrke also was a part-time employee at Len’s Ace Hardware in Addison.
Other survivors include three daughters, Deanna Dahlgren, Kimberly Oakes and Sherri Tiani; his mother, Marie; a brother, Howard; and nine grandchildren.
Visitation will be held from 3 to 9 p.m. Wednesday in Humes Funeral Home, 320 W. Lake St., Addison. Services will be held at 9:15 a.m. Thursday in the funeral home with mass at 10 a.m. in Holy Ghost Catholic Church, 254 N. Wood Dale Rd., Wood Dale.
