Helmut T. Jaehnigen March 8, 1936 — November 15, 2025
Helmut’s Early Days at Behnke Nurseries
Over the years, if you came to Behnke Nurseries to buy shrubs, trees, or your Christmas tree, chances are you met Helmut. For me, Helmut has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, from the time I was a little girl living in that old brick house on the nursery, all the way through adulthood.
Helmut came to America as a young man from Germany to work for my grandparents. We had an apartment in our basement where many of the men from Germany and Holland stayed when they first arrived. Helmut was one of them. I can’t remember exactly how long he lived with us, but eventually he moved into his own home and started a family.
A Leader in the Woody Plants Department
As far back as I can remember, he ran everything in the woody plants department; he was the buyer and the manager, choosing the plants, caring for them, and helping customers find just the right tree for their yard. It was a big responsibility, and he carried it with such dedication that people came looking specifically for him.
A Steady Presence in My Childhood
And for me, whenever I stopped by the nursery, it was always his big hug that I looked forward to. With no father in my life, I was blessed to have many good men around me growing up, my grandfather, my uncles, Helmut, and others who were always there.
Remembering Helmut
A few weeks ago, Linda reached out, and I was able to go see Helmut and say goodbye. Helmut was one of those people you carry with you, part of the fabric of Behnke’s and part of my own story.
We have a few articles on our website about Helmut, and I wanted to share one from 2011. And that little girl Helmut is holding below? That is me!
Helmut wasn’t just part of the nursery; he was part of my family. Rest in peace.
I remember Helmut well from early 1988, when I started landscaping our property in Clarksville around the newly built house, through the remainder of his time at Behnke’s. Working at BARC back then, I made regular trips to Behnke’s, and the vast majority of our original trees and shrubs came from there (along with many annuals and perennials over the next few decades). Helmut was always ready to share information on the plants I was considering, and point me towards others that might suit as well. What a lovely man, and an asset to every community of which he was a member.
What a beautiful and meaningful life though, bringing nature to people. RIP Helmut.