A Friend of Zion Lutheran Church of Helotes
(Zion member Arthur "Bo" Villemain's father)

VILLEMAIN

Arthur F. Villemain, longtime resident of Helotes, TX was born October 6, 1943 in San Antonio and passed away April 15, 2004 at the age of 60.  Educated at St. Gerard's Catholic School and St. Mary's University, he began his career in the insurance business in 1965.  In 1986, he founded Employee Benefit Services and served as its active president until his passing.  He was active in the community and instrumental in the incorporation of Helotes.  He was preceded in death by his mother, Irene V. Tierson and her husband, O.C. Tierson.  He is survived by his beloved wife of 38 years, Billie Boenig Villemain; father, Arthur Villemain and wife Mary; three children, Rhonda Villemain Suckow and husband Dusty, Arthur 'Bo' Villemain, Jr. and wife Jana, Pete Villemain and wife Kathy; Loving 'Pop' to his 10 grandchildren, Tim, Colleen, Ean, Paige, Jacob, Erin, Blair, Nathan, Seth and Devon; sister, Laurette Villemain.  Pallbearers will be: Henry Christopher, Jerry Cotton, Lou Fleckenstein, Emilio Garza, Niels Jensen, Reudy Loeffler, Carey Page and Ernie Perez.  If so desired, memorials may be made to the CTRC in his memory.  SERVICES  A Vigil will be held at 7:30 P.M., Sunday, April 18, 2004 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Helotes.  Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 A.M. on Monday, April 19, 2004 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church with Rev. Gerald Hammel, SJ officiating.  Interment to follow at Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Helotes.  Mission Park Funeral Chapels North.

MISSION PARK
FUNERAL CHAPELS & CEMETERIES
3401 Cherry Ridge Dr.
 349-1414

(San Antonio Express-News, April 17, 2004)

Villemain helped establish town of Helotes
He devoted himself to his family, work and community affairs.
(By Michelle Mondo, Express-News Staff Writer)

Arthur R. Villemain, an early civic leader in Helotes, could make lifelong friends in minutes, said Billie Boenig Villemain, his wife of 38 years.  It was with the support and help of those friends that Villemain faced his fight with pancreatic cancer.

"When he got sick we started saying the rosary every night at 8, and sometimes 15 to 20 people would be there," his wife said. "We have been extremely blessed. Art made friends so easy."

Villemain died Thursday, just six weeks after his diagnosis. He was 60.  A funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. today at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Helotes.  Interment will follow at Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Helotes.

His wife said the coouple had been looking forward to more travel after handing over the family business, Employee Benefit Services, to their sons.  Still, she said, her husband's life had been full, because he always took advantage of chances to be involved in the community.

A fifth-generation San Antonian born Oct. 6, 1943, Villemain lived in the area his entire life.  He attended St. Gerard's Catholic School and stayed in town to attend St. Mary's University, where he became president of the local fraternity, Tau Delta Sigma.

He met his wife when they both worked at Valley Hi Mall.

With a knack for sales, Villemain entered the life insurance business in 1965 and quickly made a name for himself.

The family moved to the area of what is now Helotes. Villemain played an integral part in the process of incorporating the small town, working as treasurer on the board that pushed to become a city, his wife said.

Villemain continued working in community leadership roles and helped raise funds to bring the Northwest YMCA to Helotes.  In the 1980s he founded Employee Benefit Services.

Arthur F. Villemain Jr. said that no matter how busy his father was with business, he always made time for his three children.  He coached soccer, baseball and flag football.  "He was absolutely a role model," Villemain Jr. said.

Once his children began to leave home, Villemain picked up woodworking, his wife said.  His first project was a cradle he built for his dauhter's first child.  He continued making furniure, and all his children have at least one piece in their homes.

A friend asked him after the cancer diagnosis if there was anything he regretted not having had the time to do, his wife said.  "He said to him, 'No, there really isn't,'" she said.  "Then the next day he came to me and said,'I want to build one more beautiful thing.'  But he never had the time."

Villemain is survived by his wife; his father, Arthur Villemain and wife Mary; three children, Arthur "Bo" Vilemain Jr. and wife Jana, Pete villemain and wife Kathy, and Rhonda Villemain Suckow and husband Dusty; and 10 grandchildren.

(San Antonio Express-News, April 19, 2004)

[ Obituaries:  T - Z Page ] [ Use browser BACK button to return to Cemetery Pages ] [ Archives Home Page ]
The "Archives"
Zion Lutheran Church of Helotes