Obituary of Janet Ruth Helgeson
Janet Ruth Helgeson (nee Hippsley), 93, passed away on July 1, 2025 at Morristown Medical Center.
Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Janet resided in Sarasota, Florida before moving to Doraville, Georgia 52 years ago. Janet graduated from Cleveland Heights High School and Lake Erie College where she was Class President.
A lifelong supporter of the Girl Scouts she volunteered for the Girls Scouts of the Gulf Coast and helped form and lead the first integrated Girl Scout troop at Bay Haven Elementary in Sarasota, Florida in the '60s. She was always active in her schools and community and supported many charities.
Janet taught in Dekalb County Georgia for 30 years, primarily at Cross Keys High School where she was the coach for the Cross Keys Reading Bowl Team. She cared greatly for her students and fellow teachers who became lifelong friends. She was also the President of the Friends of the Doraville Library for many years.
Janet was predeceased in 1997 by her husband Earl A. Helgeson, Jr., who was the love of her life and a former Dean of New College of Sarasota, Florida. She was also predeceased in 2022 by her beloved daughter Judith Helgeson Jewell, who is survived by her husband Jim Jewell. Janet was also predeceased by her parents Ruth and Bill Hippsley, and her brother Roger Hippsley who at age 95 passed away two days before Janet.
Janet is survived by her daughter Ann Helgeson Johnson (Gage), her son Eric Helgeson, and her grandchildren Sarah Johnson, Mary Johnson, Rebecca Johnson, Elizabeth Johnson and Brooke Rogers. She is also survived by great grandchildren Cason Kelmis, Cannen Kelmis, George Rogers and Emma Rogers.
Janet wanted her obituary to read that at 93 she perished while parachuting out of a plane. While that is not the case, her sense of humor will be missed. The love, laughter and quick wit she brought to so many lives will also be greatly missed.
A family memorial service will be held in Georgia in the fall.
Donations in memory of Janet may be made to Doctors without Borders http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org or Friends of the Doraville Library, 3748 Central Ave., Doraville, GA 30340.
Arrangements are under the care of Burroughs, Kohr & Dangler Funeral Home, Madison, NJ.