Jacob Bruce Helwig

Jacob Bruce Helwig, 17, went to be with the Lord, Wednesday, May 23, 2012, at his home surrounded by loving family and friends. He had bravely fought a 16 month battle against Rhabdomyosarcoma. Jacob was born on November 15, 1994, to Glenn and Tina Coffey Helwig. He attended Highland Elementary School, Daviess County Middle School and would have been a senior this coming school year at Daviess County High School. Jacob loved sports and was a member of the Nitro traveling baseball team, participated in the Owensboro Lions Club Soap Box Derby for 3 years, attended the 2012 Super Bowl with his dad, and had a passion for NASCAR. His Make-A-Wish Foundation wish was granted this year when he and his parents attended Speed Week, capped off by the 2012 Daytona 500. Another highlight came when he was visited by one of his NASCAR heroes, Darrell Waltrip. He also enjoyed fishing, driving his car, playing video games, and traveling with his parents on trips to the Great Smoky Mountains. He especially loved hangin' out with his special group of friends, Cody Spinks, Zack Prevette, Caitlin Northern, Kelsie Neal, and Ashley Tatum who were all there for him each day and will be serving as pallbearers. Jacob was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Kenneth and Jo Helwig.

Survivors include his parents Glenn and Tina Coffey Helwig, his maternal grandparents, Bruce and Nina Coffey; aunts and uncles, Becky and Alan Engelhart, Bill and Sally Helwig, Vicki and Mark Marshal, and Gina and Kyle Dailey; and cousins, Lee Helwig, Amy Crabtree, Kelly Engelhart, Will Helwig, Adam Marshal, Nathan and Ethan Dailey all of Owensboro and Andy Engelhart of Washington, IN.

Services will be held at Noon on Saturday in the chapel of Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory. Visitation will be from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Friday and after 9 a.m. on Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery.

The family wishes to express a special thanks to all those in our community who have contributed to fundraisers for cancer in Jacob's honor, especially Carrie Kimbrell and Daviess County High School, and to all those who have helped out in so many ways by providing food, money and support to make Jacob's life special this past year. Thank you to the wonderful Hospice nurse, Lorrie Messer, and the entire Hospice staff for their outstanding service.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to Hospice of Western Kentucky, The Heartford House Building Fund.