He graduated from St. Pius Catholic High School in Houston, Texas and became a cement mason Local Union No. 681. Through the cement masons, he met and made lots of friends including his lifetime best friend Carson Bonin. He began his career in Houston, helping to build some of the city’s landmarks including the Astrodome.

After leaving the city, and moving his family to Weimar, he and his brother-in-law Alvin Emmel and good friend Tex Ray Bonin started their own cement finishing company. He got to know a lot of the local people and rekindled childhood relationships. His second career as Colorado County Commissioner of Precinct 2 was also very rewarding to him, he loved all the local people those he knew and those he got to know. He had a great deal of support and cherished friendships in the County. He retired from the county but continued his cattle ranching.

On Dec. 22, 1964, he married his first love, Alvirder Emmel of Weimar, Texas. Together they raised two daughters, Virginia and Rosemary. They returned to Alvirder’s home place in Weimar in 1979 where they finished raising their children and enjoyed country life. Herbie and Alvirder were avid hunters and fisherman. They loved God’s creation while traveling to the mountains in Colorado, New Mexico and Montana often for hunts, and summer family vacations. Also, to West Texas and the Texas Coast, mostly Port O’Connor wade fishing for trout and redfish. They both had a love for big bucks and stringers of trout. Herbie was fondly nicknamed “Herb” by his sons-in-law whom he fished and hunted with. Herbie spent his last days in his den filled with his mule deer trophies and family pictures.

Herbie was a member of St. Michael Catholic Church of Weimar, Honorary Lifetime Member of Knights of Columbus and supporter of St. Michael Catholic School, St Pius Catholic High School, St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, and Shriners Hospitals.

After the loss of Alvirder, Herbie met and married Betty Lou Hudec Vornsand on Aug. 6, 2010, at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church, Dubina. They each had lost spouses and God brought them together where they shared their love and companionship and new adventures, music, polka and waltz dancing, camping and hunting and traveling to Europe. Evening rides on the side by side with their dogs, and Herbie even took Betty coon hunting.

Herbie is survived by his wife Betty Helmcamp; children Virginia and husband Bruce Hromadka and Rosemary and husband Gary Rosenauer; stepchildren James and wife Janet Purdy and Ann and husband Toby Barlow; grandchildren Jenny and husband Bryan Hendrix and Wyatt and wife Bridgette Rosenauer; step-grandchildren Austin, Reed and Emily Purdy, Jaxson and Colby Barlow; great grandchildren Audrey Rosenauer, Cade Rosenauer and Braxton Hendrix; brother C. W. and wife Ellen Helmcamp; sister-in-law Daria Emmel; brothers-in-law Emil “Buddy” and wife Kathy Hudec and Franklin and wife Therese Hudec; nieces, nephews and cousins; cousin Leonard Helmcamp and special friend Susie Kalson.

He is preceded in death by his parents Herbert and Bea Helmcamp; wife Alvirder Emmel Helmcamp; brother-in-law Alvin Emmel and brother James Helmcamp.

Visitation was held on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023 from 5-7 p.m. at Henneke Funeral Home in Columbus, Texas with a rosary at 7 p.m. led by Fr. Chase Goodman. Funeral mass was on Tuesday, Nov. 28 at 10 a.m. at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Weimar with Celebrant Fr. Chase Goodman. Visitation at church was from 9-10 a.m.

Burial was in Ijams Cemetery on FM 2434 near Columbus, Texas.

Pallbearers were Wyatt Rosenauer, Bryan Hendrix, Gary Rosenauer, Robert Pesak, Doug Pesak, and Chad Emmel.

Honorary pallbearers were Brian Emmel, Gregory Kloesel, Bobby Pesak, Shane Pesak, Gary Helmcamp, Dustin Helmcamp, Ed Boettcher, David Vornsand, Doug Wessels, Walter Ermis, Harry Alton Engelmohr and Special Mention Carrie Rerich.

Memorials may be given to St. Michael Catholic Church or St. Michael Catholic School, P.O. Box 36, Weimar, TX 78962.

Online condolences may be given at www.hennekefuneralhome.com.