Helmut Duenser

Helmut Duenser, a meat cutter, chef, and DIY aficionado died in Cedar City, Utah on January 24th, 2022 from esophageal cancer.

 

Helmut is survived by his two sons; Sean and Michael; and his two sisters Monika and Marieluis.

Helmut was born in Feldkirch, Austria on April 24th, 1939 with World War II underway. He left home at 14 and became a meat cutter apprentice. He traveled across Europe working hard for different shops and restaurants until he left for the US, arriving in Connecticut at the age of 26. Helmut moved westward towards California and married Ana Pasillas in Los Angeles. The two welcomed two sons, Michael in 1977, and Sean in 1982.

 

When Helmut was young he was an avid swimmer and skier. He once swam across Lake Constance and had won a silver medal during a competition. He introduced his sons to fishing and sailing in the early 1990’s. Helmut enjoyed Southern California beaches, but preferred the mountains in Utah instead. He would relocate to Utah in 1995 where he began developing an acre of land by landscaping a koi pond, planting trees, and building a smokehouse and logged structures like a bar for guests and barn for his farm animals. Helmut would find a new passion by going to the woods to chop trees and fire his rifles. He would become a snowbird by flying to his winter home in Florida. There, he would spend his days kayaking and chatting with his beach friends.

 

Helmut had a great appreciation for the discipline in the arts and crafts of others and would be able to talk up a storm with anyone he came across. Helmut’s charisma and wild stories will be missed by his family and friends.