Charles “Phil” Helm, 75 of Fairfield, passed away Thursday May 30, 2024, at Aperion Care in Fairfield. He was born in Centralia IL on February 1, 1949, to Murvele and Helen (Thompson) Helm. On July 3,1971 he married Brenda Smith. They were about to celebrate 53 years of marriage.
Phil graduated from Salem High School in 1968. He then enrolled in the American Academy of Art in Chicago. He completed his Associates Degree in Commercial Art at SIU Carbondale in 1971.
Phil was a long-time employee of Kincaids Hardware, then was employed for the City of Fairfield prior to his retirement in 2011. He served in the US Army Reserves in South Carolina during the Vietnam War. Phil was a member of the First Chrisitan Church in Fairfield.
Phil’s passion was music and movies. He amassed a large collection of records, CDs, and DVDs. He was a trivia expert on bands, their members, and their songs, as well as movies and their casts. He also enjoyed collecting diecast cars.
Phil is survived by his wife Brenda of Fairfield; son Matthew (Brandy) Helm of Newburgh IN; grandson Jaxon Helm of Newburgh IN; sister Mary Grace Scheffres of Woodstock IL; nephews- Mark Easley of Rockford IL and Chris (Jean) Easley of Huntley IL; niece Andrea Scheffres of Woodstock IL; brother in law Jerd (Tali) Smith of Geff; sisters in law Kim (Robert Larner) of Edinburg Scotland and Peggy (Bob) Lyons of Springfield IL; step granddaughter- Christa Stallings of Newburgh IN and step great granddaughter Brooklyn Stallings also survive.
Phil was preceded in death by his parents, paternal grandparents JT and Mary Jaine Helm, maternal grandparents Richard and Ma Grace Thompson, nephew David Brian Easley, and parents in law Charles and Dorothy Smith.
Per Phil’s wishes, his body will be cremated, and graveside memorial service will be held at 2PM on Friday June 7, 2024, at Maple Hill Cemetery. Friends and family are asked to go directly to the cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Cancer Care Specialists of IL for their Fairfield Clinic or the Wayne County Humane Society and will be accepted at the Johnson and Vaughn Funeral Home who is in charge of all arrangements.
