Helmut Wilkens

Helmut Wilkens, 84, of Suwanee, GA, passed away on Wednesday, December 9th, 2020. He is survived by his devoted and loving wife of 61 years, Elfriede, his two children, Peter and Laura, his daughter-in-law Melinda and son-in-law Bill, his granddaughter Grace, his sisters Margunda and Helga, and other nieces and nephews in Europe.

Helmut was born in 1936 in northern Germany in the small town of Bornberg north of Hamburg. In 1953, at the age of 17, he immigrated to America, living with and working for his sponsor and uncle Hermann, who owned the original Jahn's Ice Cream Parlor No. 1 in the Bronx.

He later moved to Brooklyn and found his own success as executive chef for the restaurant within the Lane Bryant department store at 465 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.

He met his beloved wife Elfriede at one of the many dance halls that catered to European immigrants. They enjoyed many summers in the Catskill Mountains and Candlewood Lake, CT, and settled in Queens, NY and had two children.

When his uncle retired, he purchased the ice cream parlor, keeping all its ornate turn-of-the-century wood carved decor and charm, and many of the original holiday candy-making traditions associated with Jahn's. He successfully operated it as a popular neighborhood luncheonette until the late 1970's.

Moving his family to the rural countryside of Putnam County, NY, he transitioned from restaurant owner to a European craftsman and handyman, and enjoyed gardening, deer hunting, custom woodworking, and working on his cars and small engines.

He became a general contractor for an architect/builder of million-dollar contemporary homes in Westchester County, and would later form his own home building company in Kent, NY.

He and his wife retired to Georgia to join their children already living there. He enjoyed being a loving grandfather "Opa" to his granddaughter Grace. A soccer player in his youth and a lifelong soccer fan, and he never missed any of Grace's soccer games, and he took great pride in her academic success and the success of his children.

Helmut always enjoyed learning new things, and surprised everyone when he began a new hobby as a beekeeper. He was an early, active and cherished member of the Forsyth County Beekeepers Club, and even inspired his son and daughter-in-law to become Certified Beekeepers.

A master of many trades who took great pride in the quality and longevity of his work, he was always eager to inspire, help, and converse with others. Helmut's bright and enthusiastic personality developed many lasting friendships.

A Memorial Visitation of his cremains will be held at McDonald and Son Funeral Home, 150 Sawnee Drive, Cumming, GA, on Saturday, December 12th, 2020, from 12:00pm until 1:00pm.