Helmut Yurk 74, of Fremont passed away Saturday, March 7, 2026 in Mazatlán, Mexico. He was born August 18, 1951 in Kolbermoor, Germany to Henry and Hildegard (Schulz) Yurk.
Helmut came to Hastings as an infant and also lived in Fremont, Platte Center, Lewiston and Gurley. He graduated from Gurley High School and Midland Lutheran College in Fremont and Northwestern Lutheran Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. He married Jodeen Leopold on August 19, 1972 in Papillion.
Helmut’s first parish as a ELCA Pastor was in Pierce. He also served at Ralston, Axtell, Adams, and Gering, retiring from Gering in 2017. After retirement they came to Fremont.
He is survived by his wife, Jodeen Yurk of Fremont; sons, Christian (Carmon) Yurk of Nickerson, Jonathan (Jaime Souza) Yurk of Marine on St. Croix, Minnesot, and Peter Yurk of Omaha; daughter, Dorothy Hansen of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; brothers, Klaus Yurk and Harry Yurk both of Lincoln and Arnold (Patty) Yurk of Eagle; sisters, Renate (Dana) Mark of Fremont and Linda (Tom) Casey of Lincoln; brother-in-law, Bob Leopold (Claudia Ostavot) of Portland, Oregon; 11 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.
Helmut was preceded in death by his parents and a granddaughter.
Memorial Service will be 11 a.m. Friday, March 20, 2026, at Sinai Lutheran Church in Fremont. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday also at the church.
In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to the Fremont Friendship Center or Midland University. Online condolences may be left at www.mosermemorialchapels.com