Bert Hellsten – May 16, 1921 – May 19, 2009

Bert Hellsten age 88 of Vermilion Bay, Ontario passed away peacefully at the Dryden Regional Health Centre on May 19, 2009, after a brief illness.
Our father and grandfather was born on May 16, 1921 and spent his early years on the family homestead at Upper Falls, until the family moved to another homestead just north of Vermilion Bay. He served his country as a gunner in WWII and continued to be a proud veteran and Legion member after the war.
In 1948, he married Anne and moved to Thunder Bay to raise a family. He was employed by the Port Arthur Fire Department and later the Thunder Bay Fire Department, over a period of 27 years. At the fire hall, his cooking skills made him popular with his fellow employees.
Mom’s death in 1979 was a crushing blow. However, he recovered from this and went on to fulfill, one of his life’s ambitions. After retiring in 1981, he returned to Vermilion Bay to build a new home and live on the family homestead, where he grew up. He became a member of the Vermilion Bay Lions Club and the Happy Go Lucky Seniors Club and served on the Vermilion Bay Co-op Board of Directors. He was also a member and strong supporter of the New Democratic Party.
Dad loved the outdoors. In his younger years, he was an avid hunter andfisherman. In his later years the outdoor activities of choice, became gardening, bird watching, and feeding the deer herd on his property.
Dad fell ill, just before the Easter weekend of 2009, and when it became
clear that he was not going to get better, he faced his end with dignity and courage. He succumbed to his illness, three days after making it to his 88th birthday.
He was predeceased by his parents, Emil and Anna Hellsten, by his brother Martin in 1945, by his wife Anne in 1979, son John in infancy, twin sisters in infancy and nephew David Oja.
He is survived by his son Martin of Vermilion Bay, daughter Catherine and partner Randall McQuaker of Winnipeg, daughter Valerie and husband Kevin Byrne of Hanna, Alberta, sister-in-law Bertha Oja of Thunder Bay, granddaughter Elizabeth Hellsten, and numerous relatives in Finland. He also leaves behind his special friends Mickey, Lucky, Jamie and Julius.
Our family, wishes to express its gratitude to the staff at the Dryden Regional Health Centre, for the outstanding care that they provided, to Dr. Cortens, Dr. Mazurski, and Dr. Gagnon and the staff at the Machin Medical Clinic. We also want to thank the Machin First Respond Team and a special thanks to all the well wishers and those, who assisted on the day we brought him to the hospital.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
If they wish to do so, in lieu of flowers, friends of the family may make a donation to the Dryden CT Scan, the Machin Fire Team or a charity of their choice through the Dryden Community Funeral Home.