Helmut R. Gutmann

Gutmann, Helmut R. Died February 14 of complications from a fall. He was 97 years old. He was a resident of Friendship Village in Bloomington. Helmut was born July 31, 1911 in Strasbourg, Germany. He received an MD from the University of Goettingen. Helmut had an avid and life-long love of recreational sports, including skiing, mountainclimbing, tennis, swimming, canoeing and fitness training. He immigrated to the US in 1936 under threat from the Nazi government, and served as a captain in the Chemical Warfare Service of the US Army. Helmut worked for 40 years as a research scientist at the VA Hospital in Minneapolis. His research resulted in the publication of 120 papers in professional journals. In addition to science, Helmut had an abiding love of classical music. He played the violin for many years, including 12 years with the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra. Later in life, he played the piano, which he did until his death. Helmut is survived by his loving wife, Betty of 63 years; their four children, Ruth Hennig (Calvin), David, Michael (Sandra), and Rebecca Younes (Munther); and eight grandchildren. He also leaves a brother and a sister. A memorial service is planned at the Minnesota Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (MVUUF) in Bloomington. Details will be available by contacting the fellowship at 952-884-8956. In lieu of flowers, please send memorial donations to MVUUF, 10715 Zenith Avenue South, Bloomington or the YMCA, Southdale Branch, 7355 York Avenue, Edina.
This obituary was originally published in the Star Tribune.