“We would not be here without them.”

The “here” is their iconic Main Street business established in 1898 and going strong after 125 years.

The “them” were a number of former employees who attended a dinner at Elmwood Country Club Thursday night given in their honor and hosted by Vic and Gayle.

“We wanted to recognize all former employees to coincide with our 125th anniversary, which we celebrated in September,” Vic said.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO — A newspaper ad featuring a cherub promoting Hellberg's Jewelers when the business was at 12 W. Main St. in Marshalltown.

The business has weathered two World Wars, the Great Depression, countless economic recessions, online shopping competitors, the 2018 tornado and 2019 derecho.

All were overcome by four generations of Hellberg family ownership and employees. On Thursday night, Jan Berggren of Bradshaw, Nebraska and Dianna Good of Indiana reminisced about their years of service.

Berggren worked as a sales associate from 1990 to 2000. She also did appraisals.

She was motivated to enter the workforce after her two children were settled in school and Greg — her husband — had a job that required him to travel often.

“The appraisals were a high point, because I learned a lot,” she said. “Plus the people, my fellow employees and the Hellbergs. It was good, all good. The Hellbergs were delightful to work for.”

T-R PHOTO BY MIKE DONAHEY A newspaper ad celebrating Hellberg Jeweler’s 65th anniversary is shown. Clockwise from upper left is H.V. Hellberg, H.V. Hellberg Jr. Mrs. H.V. Hellberg Jr., Gary Wagner, Mrs. Frank Foster, Mrs. Ray Herzog and Mrs. Wayne Linke.

Good, who lives in southern Indiana, worked 10 years, beginning in 1999 and was hired by Vic.

“He broke me in,” she said with a laugh.

She was excited to work in a comfortable retail environment surrounded by high-quality items, congenial fellow employees and pleasant customers.

“I never encountered any irate people at all,” she said. “People coming into the store were in a good mood … They were looking to purchase something nice for someone. I would do it all over again.”

Jim Goodman of Moore, McKibben, Goodman & Lorenz, LLP of Marshalltown said he never worked as a retail associate but has managed the store’s legal affairs. He said it was an honor to be invited, and Goodman could relate to the Hellberg’s historic tenure. His law firm has provided legal services to central Iowans for 138 years, according to its website.

Hellberg’s Jewelers was established by Vic’s great-grandfather, William Hellberg.

William was born in Sweden, where he learned his craft, according to the “Marshalltown Illustrated,” published (date unknown) as a supplement by the Times-Republican and sponsored by the Marshalltown Retail Merchants Association.

He came to the United States at age 24 and initially worked in St. Paul, Minn. William mastered the English language and opened his own business before moving to Sioux City and then to Marshalltown. He was active locally as a Mason and a Shriner.

William had three sons, Arthur, Eric and Hjalmar. Hjalmar followed in his father’s footsteps as a jeweler. Vic is especially proud that the store is but one of two active in business on Main Street and in the same family for multiple generations.

The other is McGregor’s Furniture, which was established in 1896 in Oskaloosa and opened its Marshalltown store in 1928 at its present location, according to the “Continual History of Marshall County 1997.”

Two others that were local Main Street staples — Apgar Photography, established in 1911, and Willard Furs and Fashions, established 1864, have closed in recent years.