It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Dr. Martin J. Helmer, of Claresholm.
Martin passed away suddenly at his home in Mumbles, Wales, on March 14, 2026, at age 38.
He was born in Claresholm in May 1987, son of Florence Guynup and Barry Helmer. Beloved husband of Michelle McLaren, a dear son-in-law of Don and Linda, a much-loved brother-in-law of Sheila, Jim and Morgan, and an adored cousin of Delane, Queley, Hope and Nolan Cotter. He was preceded in death by his mother Florence. Across his young life, Martin lived in five countries – Canada, the USA, Denmark, Australia and the UK – and visited 10 more: France, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Greece, Korea, China, Spain, the Netherlands and Switzerland.
Martin left Claresholm to pursue his education at age 18, and dedicated his life to advancing mathematical knowledge. In 2009, he received a B.Sc. degree in Applied Mathematics from the University of Ontario Institute of Technology; in 2011, he received a M.Sc. degree in Mathematics from Queen’s University; and in 2015, he received a Ph.D. degree in Applied Mathematics from the University of Western Ontario. Over the course of his career he published dozens of peer-reviewed mathematical papers and developed several novel software packages; his work significantly advanced mathematical knowledge of algebraic geometry and algebraic computations.
It was while attending UWO that he met his wife, Michelle, whom he married in 2015. Soon after completing his Ph.D., Martin and Michelle moved to the San Francisco Bay area of California, so that Martin could take a postdoctoral research position at the prestigious University of California, Berkeley. He spoke fondly of California for the rest of his life, fondly remembering the intensely beautiful rugged coastlines, the dramatic landscapes, and the variety of birds and wildlife. In 2017, he accepted another postdoctoral position, this time at the University of Copenhagen, and the couple relocated to Denmark, from where Martin made frequent visits to Paris, Germany, the U.K., and Sweden. It was while living in Denmark that Martin first learned to love the U.K, taking many long weekends vacationing in Cornwall and Wales. In 2019, he relocated again, to accept a research fellowship at The Australian National University, in Canberra, Australia. Here, again, he loved the beautiful landscapes and unique wildlife, and spent his time outside of work hiking and watching kangaroos, koalas, and kookaburras.
In 2022, Martin and Michelle relocated to Raleigh, North Carolina, so that Martin could accept an assistant professor position at North Carolina State University. After Martin was awarded a substantial grant from the United States Air Force Office of Scientific Research, which allowed him to focus on research rather than teaching, the couple chose to split their time between North Carolina and Colorado, so that they could spend afternoons hiking the rocky mountains, which Martin always loved, and weekends visiting the breathtaking red rock canyons. In 2025, Martin and Michelle relocated one final time, to Mumbles, so that Martin could accept a senior lecturer position at the University of Swansea, as well as a prestigious Wolfson Fellowship from the Royal Society, which allowed Martin to pursue his love of mathematics alongside his love of hiking and the outdoors.
A funeral service was held at Llanelli Crematorium, in Wales, on March 28, 2026. In recognition of Martin’s family in Alberta and his many friends around the world, the service was streamed and a downloadable copy can be made available by contacting William Pressdee Funeralcare in Mumbles by April 25th.
Donations in lieu of flowers and in memory of Martin may be made to Sarcoidosis UK:
www.sarcoidosisuk.org/donate/donate-to-sarcoidosisuk/