Helmut Johann Karl Deike

Helmut Johann Karl Deike, 88, Prescott, AZ passed away on Saturday, April 25, 2009 in the Hospice Care Unit at the VA Hospital in Prescott. He had resided at the Peridot Retirement Home on Bradshaw Drive in Prescott before his recent illness. He is survived by three sisters, Anne Marie Deike, Elsie (Allen) Burckhardt and Hildegarde ?Hillie? (Walter) Wells.  Also surviving are seven nieces and nephews, Sandra (James) Mihalko, Diana Burckhardt, Douglas (Laurie) Burckhardt, Richard Burckhardt, Ralph (Lana) Wells, David Wells, and Marta (Ronald) Brodsky., as well as two grand nieces, a grand nephew,  and a great grand nephew and great grand niece.   He was born on September 8, 1920 in Tilsit, East Prussia, Germany, the son of Max and Hedwig (Ufer) Deike, who preceded him in death, as well as a brother, Dr. Walter Deike, who died in a drowning accident, and also a niece, Catherine Deike, who died in infancy.   He attended Freeport High School, and later received his GED with a very high rating in Prescott, AZ.   He served in the 13th Armored Division, known as the Black Cat Division., during World War 2. It is interesting to note that after the division was sent to Germany and Austria that the headquarters of that group was set up in the house where Hitler was born. But Helmut was not able to go with his division, due to an accident at Camp Beale, CA, where he was stationed. He was seriously injured when a tank ran over his leg, crushing it.  His injuries warranted amputation at once. However, before performing the operation, the surgeon discovered that Henry Wachsmuth, an honored pioneer in developing prosthesis, who had been his fellow worker at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago, was Helmut?s cousin.  The surgeon was inspired to save Helmut?s leg because of this personal connection to his friend.  Helmut was a patient for the next year in the hospital at Modesto, CA, as they worked on the reconstruction of his foot and leg.  He always walked with a limp, but on his own leg, until recent years when it was finally necessary to amputate.  Helmut was always an inspiration to his family because he was firm about daily walks, no matter what the circumstances.   He worked for many years at Kraft Foods Company, first in Freeport, IL, and later in Chicago.  He also worked for a number of years for Olsen Soil Testing Lab. as a driver throughout Wisconsin, and Sieg-Illinoes Co. as well as companies in Phoenix, AZ, before retiring in Freeport, eventually moving to Prescott, AZ in 1977, where he resided until his death.  He had many friends, and was a member of the American Legion.   His family and friends remember him as being kind and very generous.  He had a great memory, and loved to talk about his many recollections, and memories of past times He also enjoyed watching sports of all kinds, and was able to recall many statistics and sports events.   He will be greatly missed.   A Memorial service with Military Honors by American Legion, Post #6 is planned at the Chapel in the VA complex in Prescott, on Saturday, May 9th at 2PM, with Chaplain Jack Unangst officiating.   Memorial gifts in his honor may be made to the Hospice Care Unit at Vetterans Affairs, 500 Hwy 89 North, Prescott, AZ  86313   Also being honored at that time will be his brother, Dr. Walter E. Deike, who perished in a drowning accident off the coast of northern California on April 15, 1963, at age 41.  His body had never been recovered; so there had never been a military service honoring him. He had served in the 129th Infantry Band, and was stationed in the South Pacific throughout World War 2.    He was well known in the Midwest, as well as southern California for the many medals and awards he had received in track and cross county, also being Track Captain at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where he set many records that were not broken for many years. He was awarded the very prestigious Kenneth Sterling Day Award, which honored the one graduate out of all the Big Ten Universities in the Midwest with highest  scholastic, athletic and all around achievement, a very high honor.    After his death, several trophies named in his honor were established, one to be awarded to a top track star each year at Freeport High School, of which he was a graduate, and the other, the Dr. Walter E, Deike award is presented to the top track athlete of the year at the University of Wisconsin.  He also received many high scholastic and athletic honors at the University of Chicago, where he had completed his medical studies.  He interned and did his residency in southern California, where he completed his studies as a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist.      He was survived by his wife, Joan (Scott) Deike, who died March 5, 2005, and a daughter, Marta (Ron) Brodsky, who was born four and one-half months after his death, as well as his mother, Mrs. Hedwig Deike, who died May 9 1967. Other survivors were his brother, Helmut Deike, three sisters, two nieces and three nephews, listed under Helmut?s survivors. His father, Max Deike, and an infant daughter, Catherine Denise Deike, preceded him in death.