"Jim" James Ernest Helferich Ocala – Jim E. Helferich, 75, having bravely fought a lengthy illness, departed from life on August 15, 2020. Now reunited with his wife of 41 years, Frances B. Helferich, who preceded him in death July of 2018. Jim was born on September 8, 1944 to "Dutch" Ernest E. Helferich and Eva G. Helferich in Cleveland, OH. He was a graduate of CIA – Culinary Institute of America – and is a veteran of the United States Army. Jim enjoyed spending time with his family, his work, and took pleasure in tinkering around with various types of equipment and machinery. He had an uncanny ability to resolve, rebuild and reuse even the most frustrating and vexing of problems with parts of machinery and equipment. For him, everything was just a puzzle waiting for a solution. It was rate that he was unable to find one [ a solution]. Throughout his life, Jim held a lengthy career in Hospitality Management, overseeing entire Food and Beverage Divisions. He specialized in theme parks and worked as Food and Beverage Director all over the United States. In Florida, he managed parks such as Sea World, The Miami Sea Aquarium, Silver Springs, Wild Waters and Weeki Watchee. Then at Ocean Breeze in Virginia Beach, VA and Blue Bayou Water Park in Baton Rouge, LA. After a successful career in Entertainment and Attraction Management, Jim returned to his first love – food. He owned and operated a successful catering company – Helferich Hospitality Services – a family business which expanded to several employees who served with a focus on quality, presentation, and overall appeal to the palate and visual aesthetic. The lasts two years of his career, Jim accepted a position with the State of Florida as the Food and Nutrition Director at Sumter County Correctional, where he applied with skill a lifetime of food service experience, ensuring that mealtimes became a more enjoyable experience than ever before. Everyone who knew Jim fell in love with him. He was hard-working, diligent, trustworthy, honest and kind-hearted with an overall good-natured and generous heart that one simply doesn't find in many people these days. A family man at heart, he loved them fully, completely and unconditionally. Jim Helferich was i ncomparably the world's g reatest father. Jim is survived by his precious and devoted daughter, Jessica A. Helferich, a kind, and loving son, Tyler J. Helferich and two brothers Richard and William Helferich. A private ceremony was held on Friday, August 28, 2020 at Baldwin Brothers Funeral Society in Ocala, Florida. Family strictly enforced CDC guidelines of masks and social distancing. If you would like to pay your respects to Mr. Helferich and Family, you may reach his daughter by email at Jessica.A.Helferich@gmail.com . Jim rests peacefully next to his wife, Frances B. Helferich at the Belleview Cemetery in Belleview, Florida.