Donald Thomas Helregel

Donald Thomas Helregel, 93, passed away on February 20, 2026, surrounded by his loving family at home in Lexington, KY, after a long illness.

Don was born on December 28, 1932, and raised on his family’s farm in Sainte Marie, Illinois, the eldest child of Edward Charles Helregel and Mildred Catherine (Gowin) Helregel. Don remembered his childhood as both hardworking and joyful, filled with fishing and baseball, friends and family. As a boy, Don honed a lifelong love of a naughty prank: he threaded strands of horse tail hair into cigarettes, sprinkled rubber in the church incense as an altar boy, and trickled tart green persimmon juice into his uncle’s flask.

After graduating from Newton High School and working in his uncle’s grain mill, Don served in the U.S. Air Force as a communications specialist. He traveled around the country and world, relishing seeing earth from the sky. While stationed in Iwo Jima and facilitating Pacific communications, Don traded cigarette rations for extra ice cream and swam in rough Pacific waves, riding them to shore.

Don then worked briefly at Bell Telephone before enrolling at Southern Illinois University (SIU). In 1959, after graduating with a degree in Electronics from SIU, he married Sara Jane Kautz in Sainte Marie, Illinois, and moved to the St. Louis area to work at IBM, watching the Gateway Arch being erected. He transferred to IBM in Lexington, KY in 1964, where he remained for the duration of his career. He was proud of his tenure at IBM, the many friendships he made there, and the elaborate office pranks he and his colleagues would exchange.

Together, Don and Sara raised three daughters: Deborah, Brenda, and Mary Beth. He retired early from IBM to stay home with Mary Beth, steadfastly caring for her with tenderness, wit, and love until her passing in 2004. Don was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather—present, supportive, and loving. He would always remind us, “the door’s always open,” and he meant it.

Besides his family, Don had many passions during his life. In his youth, he loved playing baseball and received an offer to play in the minor leagues. He also loved airplanes, golf, summer fun and swimming, ice cream, birding, old-time country music, and staying up-to-date on the latest business and tech news. He appreciated a good visit: being present with someone and taking time to listen and converse. Don would advise us all to slow down, ponder over a wonderment or a memory, and enjoy life’s simple pleasures—every sight, sniff, bite; the warmth of the sunshine on your skin.

Don is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Sara Jane [Kautz] Helregel; daughters, Deborah Ann Helregel and Brenda Kay [Helregel] Stull (Scott); grandchildren, Sara Carolyn Barnes (Jacob Wasilkowski), Jessica Stull Lloyd (David), and Daniel Thomas Jacob Stull (Rachael Wright); and four great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters, Dorothy Helregel Matthius and Judith “Judy” Ann Helregel Millsap, and many family and friends.

Per Don’s wishes, a simple graveside service to celebrate Don and Mary Beth’s lives will be held at 11:00 AM on June 29, 2026, at the Saint Mary’s Cemetery in Sainte Marie, Illinois. Following the service, family and friends are invited to attend a reception at West End Reception, 202 Museum Drive, Newton, IL. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to Shriners Children’s Hospital or your local hospice care provider.

“Go first class,” and rest in peace, Don, Dad, Grandpa. We will always cherish our memories of you.