Walter Helgeland

CHARLTON - Walter Helgeland, 75, died late on Friday, March 25, 2011, in the Skilled Nursing Unit at the Overlook. The cause of death was glioblastoma.

Walter was born on June 11, 1935 in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Pauline Regina (Aarstad) Helgeland and Oskar Helgeland. He received a BS in Chemistry (magna cum laude) from Brown University in 1957, and an MBA (with distinction) from Babson College in 1974. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1957-1960.

Through a long, successful career, Walter worked for Sprague Electric, Norton Company, Varian Vacuum Products, Ferrofluidics, and Rigaku USA. He was a member of the American Chemical Society, Sigma Psi, and the IEEE. He filed seven patents, five of which have been issued.

Walter was a member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Southbridge, Massachusetts. His hobbies included flying electric model airplanes, making golf clubs, and singing with various vocal ensembles. He was a long-time member of the Freelance Family Singers (Woodstock, VT), sang with the Salisbury Singers (Worcester, MA), and various church choirs in Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Ohio.

Walter is survived by his beloved wife of 53 years, Joan (Gatie) Helgeland, and daughters Ellen (James) R. Jewart (Worcester, MA), Alexa R. Vogelzang (Lubbock, TX), and Kirsten J. Helgeland (Danvers, MA). He also leaves behind six grandchildren, Joan Powers (Dracut, MA), Rachel Vogelzang (Concord, NH), Brandon Van Corbach (Lowell, MA), Anna Vogelzang (Madison, WI), Diana Van Corbach (College Station, TX), and Edward Van Corbach (Worcester, MA), and two great-grandchildren, Jack and Tessa Powers (Dracut, MA). He is survived by his older brother Thomas Helgeland (New Bedford, MA) and younger sister Eleanor Brown (Florence, MA).

The funeral will be held on Saturday, April 9, 2011, at 11:00 AM, in Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 446 Hamilton Street, Southbridge, MA 01550, with The Rev. Dr. Mary Gustafson officiating. Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 7, 2011, from 3:00-5:00 PM, in the Great Room at the Overlook, 88 Masonic Home Road, Charlton, MA 01507. A memorial service will be held on Friday, April 8, 2011, at 11:00 AM, in the Performing Arts Center at the Overlook, 88 Masonic Home Road, Charlton, MA 01507.  The Belanger-Bullard Funeral Home, 51 Marcy St., Southbridge, is directing arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 446 Hamilton Street, Southbridge, MA 01550, or the Quechee Library, P.O. Box 384, Quechee, VT 05059-0384, or Overlook Hospice, 88 Masonic Home Road, Davenport 2, Charlton, MA 01507.

The family would like to express its appreciation for the loving care of Overlook Skilled Nursing and Hospice.

An online guestbook is available at www.BelangerFuneralHome.com.