Milt Helmer was a man who was committed to serving others. He was an instrumental member of the Ellsworth Commercial Club (later the Chamber of Commerce) and was key to the success of many local businesses. While he preferred to work behind the scenes, his ability to plan, fundraise, and make things happen was widely recognized. As Jack Hines remembered, “Milt was never one to look for credit. He just quietly went to work and made things happen for the good of the town.”

His civic engagement was extensive, serving as a Boy Scout leader and a Shriner member as well as helping to fundraise for nearly every committee formed in Ellsworth. Milt was also the Lodge Councilor of the Ellsworth Free Masons Lodge and was awarded Mason of the Year in 2002. Hines recalled, “If something needed doing in Ellsworth, chances are Milt was already involved. He just had that way about him—people trusted him to get things done.”

Milt helped unite the Ellsworth Community. “Milt possessed a strong moral compass and a clear vision of right and wrong, making planning and inclusiveness straightforward for him. He was highly social and skilled at ensuring everyone felt welcome and involved.” according to Mark Helmer. Jack Hines remembered, “Milt had a real gift for bringing people together. He made you feel like you belonged and that what you were doing mattered.”

His influence extended beyond the local community. He was the founding member of the Independent Free Papers of America, which became the strongest and most successful independent free paper organization in North America.

Milt owned Helmer Printing and The Ellsworth Shopper with his brother, Bill Helmer. Earlier in his career, in his early 20s, he was the Editor and Publisher of the Hammond News before dedicating his time to launching The Ellsworth Shopper with his parents, Clayton and Gertrude Helmer, and brother Bill Helmer.

His strong “we before me” attitude—putting family and community first—helped build Helmer Printing into a successful family business. Milt was known for his ability to put an idea into action; if something needed to be done, people asked Milt for help. Hines reflected, “Milt wasn’t the kind of person who just talked about ideas. If he believed in something, he rolled up his sleeves and found a way to make it happen.”

Among his many talents were cartooning and free-hand sign painting. He was extremely artistic and had a flair for creating successful advertising campaigns, for which Milt won many awards. He also enjoyed fishing, photography, and spending time with his family.

Milt’s fingerprints are all over Ellsworth, though he preferred to remain out of the spotlight. If you look back in history at articles or local stories, you will often find the byline, “Photo by Milt Helmer.” As Jack Hines said, “You might not always see Milt’s name on things, but if you look around Ellsworth, you can see the results of the work he did for this community.”

William “Cubby” Huber’s life reflected a lifelong commitment to service, personal growth and a simple but powerful belief that being kind is the fundamental foundation of success.

As the EHS 1968 senior class president, he brought people together, energized school spirit, and made every student feel seen and included. His presence was a steady reminder that true leadership isn't about titles: it's about caring for others and lifting them up. His legendary moment, being carried off the wrestling mat after the team won the conference championship for Ellsworth High School, remains a symbol of his determination and admiration he earned from his fellow students.

After high school, he followed in his mother' s footsteps by choosing a path in education. He attended UWRF campus while continuing to milk cows for his family's dairy farm. As a social studies teacher and coach, he inspired students to believe in themselves and to work hard. His students remember him not just for the lessons he taught, but for the encouragement, compassion and example he set every day to be kind. He taught at a number of area schools and when he retired as a full-time teacher, he purchased his local business, Cubby's Hollywood Video, Pizza and Tanning. This allowed him to take up substitute teaching, and for over twenty years he put in 5 days a week subbing in surrounding communities, but his favorite days were spent in our Ellsworth schools where he picked up every single day that he could.

At Cubby's, he took pride in helping to shape his local young employees into being hard working, dependable, and respectable. He had a great relationship with his employees and it was an honor to watch them grow and learn with him. He loved his role at Cubby's because it allowed him to not only be in constant interactions with our community but to also give back to it, often donating food or goods to local events or programs.

Throughout Cubby's life, he never drifted from his hometown community or the school he attended. His family often joked with him that he had to live within a mile of Hwy 63... because he did, always. As the energetic master of ceremonies at countless class reunions for the class of 1968, he brought classmates together and filled each gathering with humor, warmth, and connection. He understood how much community matters and he helped preserve it with pride. He loved volunteering at the annual Ellsworth Fire Department chicken feed delivering dinners. He attended sporting events, plays, and concerts at the schools. He festively rode in local parades. In recent years, after he sold Cubby's, he had begun taking tickets at sporting events so that he could continue to connect with the community and watch the students participate in their activities. The lines would get pretty long as he wanted to chat with every family as they came through!

Cubby always went out of his way to shake hands, congratulate or offer encouragement to athletes. He wrote letters to many local wrestlers over the years. He told them where his seat was at the state tournament, and when they made it they would make his day by finding him there. Cubby was a quintessential example of what it means to have E-Town Pride and he wore it daily, supporting our students, teachers, and coaches alike. Cory Brathall wrote of Cubby, “ He provided the kind of encouraging presence that elevates a community.”

He was quick to remind those around him that achievements matter, but how we treat others matters more - and true success is measured not by titles or trophies, but by the positive difference we make in the lives around us. He taught us that "it's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice."

Judi Helmer made learning fun and EHS a place where colleagues supported each other. “Few people in the district could claim they did not know Judi’s name or feel the impact of her kindness and dedication to others,” according to Jan Pavloski.

A member of the Ellsworth High School Class of 1983, Judi was active in cheerleading, as Pavloski recalled, “that role stayed with her as she became the cheerleader for kids, colleagues, and many Ellsworth residents who needed a boost when facing life’s challenges.”

Judi attended UW- Eau Claire, earned a business degree, then returned to teach at her alma mater. During her 26-year career at Ellsworth High School, Judi taught a wide range of business courses, including Accounting, Personal Finance, Computers, Multimedia, Business Law, and Entrepreneurship. She mentored new teachers and supported colleagues entering the profession. She valued fellow business ed teachers for their expertise and abilities, tapping their experiences, and making life- long friends along the way. Judi worked with the middle school to emphasize essential skills such as keyboarding and career awareness. She was awarded the ECSD Teacher of the Year in 2015.

One of Judi’s most lasting contributions was founding the Panther’s Den, a student-operated school store that provided hands-on learning in accounting, entrepreneurship, marketing, and management. Under her leadership, the store became a point of pride for the school and a model for other districts. Profits supported student leadership opportunities and extracurricular activities, and the Panther’s Den continues today because of her vision.

Judi was beloved by the EHS students for her kindness, love of fun, and interest in their lives. She had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh (and tease) fellow staff members and students. EHS colleagues knew she would provide a listening ear and solid advice. Judi loved checking in on the local sports teams and cheering on her own beloved kids, as well as all their teammates and her students. She was a great fan of sports and her family as well, making sure she was at whatever big event was scheduled for that day.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Judi was known for her extraordinary kindness, courage, and commitment to her community. Diagnosed with cancer at age twenty-eight, she battled the disease multiple times while continuing to teach and support others. “What would I do if I stayed home? I have to go to school,” remembered Jan Pavloski, reflecting Judi’s dedication to her students.

Her love for Ellsworth and its people was evident to everyone who knew her. “When I say she loved her community, she truly loved her community,” said Ashley Jensen. Jensen also noted that Judi always put others first and was deeply passionate about helping students succeed and follow their dreams. She was proud of the Panther’s Den and the opportunities it created for students, and she worked to bring awareness and compassion to others facing breast cancer.

Judi taught until shortly before her passing in 2017, leaving a legacy as a beloved teacher, mentor, and community member. Her students, colleagues, and community continue to feel the lasting impact of her generosity, strength, and unwavering belief in others.