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A Royal Canadian Navy Historical Project
In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
HELMUT, Gerald - age 89 of Greenwood, passed away peacefully in Soldiers' Memorial Hospital, Middleton, on December 9, 2019. He was born in Fairlight, Sask., on February 24, 1930 to Erna Marseilles (Meyers) and Frederick John Keil. Gerry had a successful and adventurous career in the CAF first as a seaman in communications with the RCN, then in the RCAF as a radio officer, a navigator and an electronic warfare officer on the Neptune, Lancaster, Flying Boxcar and Argus aircraft in Comox, B.C., Winnipeg, Man., Sacramento, Calif., St. Hubert, Que., and Greenwood. After accumulating 7000-plus hours of flying, he retired from the CAF in 1975 and became a realtor and co-owner with Banner Real Estate, which later sold to Remax Real Estate and had a very successful and satisfying 25 year career selling houses in the Valley. He was an honest and fair man and would go the extra mile to make sure his clients were happy. Gerry was a long-time volunteer with VP International and with the Greenwood Military Museum as a Life Member, Society Director, Fund Raiser, Memorial Stones Coordinator and Flight Education Instructor. He was also instrumental in organizing and negotiating a program for getting a P2V7 Neptune aircraft from the United States Navy for static display at CFB Greenwood (the Neptune is the only one on display in Canada). Gerry is survived by his daughters, Joclyn (Jim) Burke and Susan Keil; and his granddaughter, Kate Kelly. He was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley Anne (Noonan); his brother, Eric (Mary); and his sisters, Irma (Earl) McEachern, Elva (Otto) Bigalke, Hilda (Gordon) Alexander and Iryne (Bob) Ruttka. Gerry made many close friends over the years both in the Air Force and the real estate business and he will be remembered fondly and with many great stories. The family also wishes to acknowledge the nurses, physicians and staff of Valley Regional Hospital in Kentville, and Soldiers' Memorial Hospital in Middleton; with a special thanks to the care workers and staff of Annapolis Valley Home Care in Kingston, and to the doctors and nurses on the Palliative Care Team with NSHA. Cremation has taken place under the care of Middleton Funeral Home, 398 Main St., toll free 1-855-825-3448. A gathering to celebrate Gerry's life will take place at a later date and will be published.
Gerald Helmut served in the RCN in communications before transferring to the RCAF.
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For Posterity's Sake 
