Diefenthal, Dr. Helmut was born in Berlin, Germany in 1924, and passed away on June 30, 2019, at the age of 95. Helmut survived anti- Semitism in Germany, as well as front line duty as a medic during World War II. After the war he went on to earn his German medical degree, with the intent of serving those less fortunate. Helmut would practice medicine on 4 continents. Helmut married Rotraut Garstka in 1952 and they would have four children together. Helmut and Rotraut joined the Lutheran Missionaries and moved their family to Malaysia (Malaya at that time) for four years. The next assignment was to a remote village hospital in the Paré mountains in northeastern Tanzania, East Africa. The family was then moved to Minneapolis MN for five years in order for Helmut to obtain his American medical degree, and a specialty degree in Radiology. Then returning to Moshi, Tanzania, Helmut and Rotraut set up the radiology department for a brand new hospital, the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center (KCMC). After two years the family returned to Minneapolis where Helmut continued as a Radiologist for the Veterans Hospital until he retired. Helmut and Rotraut then chose to return to KCMC to develop a Radiology training program for Tanzanian physicians. Helmut would go on to teach and serve there as a full time Radiologist for 25 years, until he was 90, when it was time to return to Minneapolis to spend time with family and friends. Helmut was greatly admired for his generosity, his dedication to his work and his humanitarianism, receiving numerous awards and International recognition for his work. Helmut is survived by his wife, Rotraut, and their four children. A memorial service honoring his life is scheduled for January. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the East African Medical Assistance Foundation (EMAF), (http:\\eastafricafoundation.org), as his work to expand Radiology services in Tanzania continues.

Published on September 1, 2019