Obituary of Helmuth Bolowsky

Helmuth Bolowsky, 87 of Glen Cove, passed away peacefully on April 15, 2025 after spending the day with his family.  He is survived by his wife, Adeline, sons Robert (Nina) and Kevin (Diane), 7 grandchildren, 1 beautiful great granddaughter, and his 2 brothers, Heinz and Ernst. 

Helmuth Bolowsky was born on March 4, 1938 in Wingst, a small farming town in northern Germany.  One of 4 boys, he worked hard on the family farm and after completing his 8^th year of school, he went to study as an apprentice butcher with Edgar Butt, the local butcher.  He left Germany at the age of 18 to pursue his American dream.  He went to NY where he lived with his aunt and uncle, worked long hours at a meat packing plant and his uncle’s ice cream parlor to get established in his new country.  He was always so thankful for the opportunity to build a better life here in the US. 

After Helmuth and his beloved wife, Adeline were married in 1960 they moved to Yonkers for a short time and then to Woodhaven, where they had purchased a delicatessen with their friends.  A short while after, Helmuth’s partner left to open his own store in Brooklyn.  My mom and dad spent nearly 40 years at 94-12 Jamaica Avenue.  He eventually sold the store almost 20 years ago to a young man who started working there as a teenager.  Appropriately, the store is still there and doing well to this day.

 Helmuth and Adeline’s first son, Robert, came along in 1963 and Kevin arrived in 1968. 

The family moved out to Garden City in the mid 1970’s but still came to Woodhaven each and every day to be at Manor Delicatessen. They were so proud of the deli.  Over the years they made such a huge impression on so many.  Many young men and women that still stay in touch, started their work lives at the store. Countless police officers and detectives from the local 102 Precinct stopped by for a quick sandwich day and night.  Helmuth was a big supporter of the local police and firefighters, even receiving a civilian award from the NYPD at 1 Police Plaza in Manhattan from the NYPD Police Commissioner. 

Helmuth and his wife were such a wonderful team.  Married 65 years!  They worked hard together.  They had kids together, grandkids and lived to see them thrive.  They recently welcomed their first great grandchild, Beatrice.   

Other than his family and his work, Helmuth had some other loves in his life.  He loved to work around the house.  Taking care of his yard and his beloved Mercedes were things he really enjoyed.  Helmuth also spent many years volunteering at Plattdeutsche Park in Franklin Square.  He and his friend, Dick, spent many days and weeks cleaning up the park each year for some of the beautiful events held there.  He was active in the Plattdeutsche Volksfest Verein and was a long-time member of the Brooklyn Schuetzen Corps.  He loved to work the annual Christkindl Market mainly as a cashier where he ALWAYS gave the correct change and a warm “Have a nice day.”    He loved 1010 WINS news, 60 Minutes, the Honeymooners, and really loved Haagen-Dazs Coffee Ice Cream.  A lot. 

Helmuth lived a wonderful, full life.  In his later years as dementia slowly stole pieces of him from us, he never stopped asking those he loved how they were doing.  How are the kids?  How are you?  Always thinking of others before himself. 

Helmuth Bolowsky, husband, father, brother, Opa, uncle, mentor and many other roles he held with excellence and love.  We will have you with us for the rest of our lives.