Cloyd Donald Helsel Obituary (1938 - 2018)

Staff Sgt. Cloyd Donald Helsel, U.S. Army Retired, age 79, of Reed City, passed away Friday evening, April 13, 2018 at home under the loving care of his family and Spectrum Health Hospice. The son of Henry Cloyd & Martha Marie (Fater) Helsel, he was born on December 26, 1938 in Dearborn. Cloyd enlisted in the United States Army, where he served in Vietnam and Germany as well as at bases around the country during his career and retired at the rank of Staff Sergeant. He had been a member of many veterans service organizations including the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, and AmVets. He was preceded in death by his parents; two wives, Phyllis Claudine (Foster) Helsel on June 28, 1994 and Jeanine Flore (Gaydos) Helsel on Nov. 16, 2014; three sons, Richard Helsel, Cloyd Helsel, Jr., and Mark Helsel; two brothers, Clifford Helsel and Jack Helsel; a sister, Gertrude Calderia. Surviving are his children, Tammy & Joseph Holmes of Reed City, Robert & Heather Helsel of Evart, Henry Helsel of Reed City, James & Cynthia Fulk of Leroy, Warren & Lori Fulk of Reed City, Margie Helsel of Arizona, Joelle Cayet of Ohio, Kelly Raynes of Florida, Michael & Rebecca Lemaire of Florida, Eric & Louisa Raynes of Ohio, Domanic & Donna Lemaire of Ohio, fifty grandchildren; twenty-four great grandchildren; a brother, Walter & Linda Helsel of Mississippi; and several nieces and nephews. Committal services, with military honors, are at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, April 20, 2018 at Fort Custer National Cemetery, 15501 Dickman Road, Augusta. The family invites relatives to celebrate Cloyd's life from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, April 21, 2018 at the Ray E. Bostick American Legion Post No.94, 422 N. Mitchell Street, Cadillac.