ROANOKE (WSLS 10) - The Roanoke Valley is remembering a community icon.
David Helmer died of a heart attack on Saturday, he was 72-years-old.
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Helmer played a key role in developing and building several community landmarks, including the O. Winston Link Museum and the Virginia Museum of Transportation.
He also served as president of the Roanoke Kiwanis Club.
Before becoming a well known fundraiser and organizer in the Roanoke Valley, Helmer fought in the Vietnam War and later worked as an executive at Norfolk Southern.
"Many folks know me as David Helmer's son. That's quite an impressive title to have," said Helmer's son Chris. "I can be a father, I can be anything in the business community, to be David Helmer's son is pretty impressive."
It's a reputation that stretched well outside of the family.
"We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for David," said Mike McNeil, the director of the O. Winston Link Museum.
Helmer helped raise the money to build the museum 11 years ago.
Over the last five years he's served as a mentor to McNeil as the museum continued to grow.
"He always focused intently on preserving the rail heritage of the Roanoke Valley," McNeil said. "He never wanted that to be something that slipped away."
His alma mater Oklahoma State was also a passion of Helmer's.
His home is bathed in orange and black, the colors of his favorite team.
He also started a scholarship at the university. His daughter Delta Pelgrim estimates Helmer is currently helping six students pay for school.
While his accomplishments are lengthy, Helmer's kids will always remember him as dad.
"We don't see him as anything amazing. He was my dad," Pelgrim said. "He was always there for every event, every major life event, every major life event for my child, he was always there."
Funeral arrangements are in the works.
Pelgrim tells WSLS 10 they should be in place by the end of the week.