James M. Diethelm M.D.

James M. Diethelm, M.D.

James (Jim) Diethelm, family practice physician, exceptional husband and father and lover of golf died on Tuesday, April 17, 2018, at Sunset Village. He was 93 years young. Jim was born in Toledo, the son of Rudolph A. Diethelm, M.D. and Marie O'Reilly Diethelm. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Helen Mominee Diethelm and sisters, Carol Manahan (Tom) and Beverly LaDue (Bob). Jim is survived by his children, Debra Monagan (Tom), James D. (J.D.) Diethelm (Julie) and Diane Goodwin (Jay). He is also survived by nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Jim attended St. Agnes Elementary School and at 13 years old he got on a train, by himself, and went to Campion Jesuit High School in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. While at Campion, he played football and ran track, and he graduated as valedictorian of his class. He was also a sports writer for the Campionette where his column was called Sideline Chatter. One of his fondest memories was when Arch Ward, the sports editor of the Chicago Tribune, invited all of the regional high school sports editors to join him on one of the inaugural trips of the Burlington Zephr, one of America's first diesel-electric stainless steel trains. They traveled from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Chicago at speeds in excess of 100 mph—a big deal in those days.

After Campion, Jim attended the University of Notre Dame where he was a member of the campus ROTC. He entered the Navy V12 College Program there, was later released from the Navy and joined the Army Reserve. He did a tour of duty during the Korean War, but was stationed stateside at Fort Polk, Louisiana, where he served in the medical corp.

Jim graduated from medical school at St. Louis University and later joined his father, Rudy, in his medical practice. He married a very cute nurse, who assisted him in practice until they started their family. Helen was the love of his life the minute he met her, in 1942, when he was home on a school break from Notre Dame. He once drove a dynamite truck, while at St. Louis, just to earn enough money to visit her at nursing school.

Dr. Jim was the first chairman of the Family Practice Department at St. Vincent Hospital and one of the original members of the St. Vincent Foundation. Rudy, Jim and J.D. were honored by St. Vincent for over 100 years of combined service to the hospital. He was also on the committee that founded St. Francis de Sales High School.

Jim was an avid Notre Dame football fan and played golf whenever he could. He often bragged that he was called off the course at Inverness Country Club—just after he had teed off —to deliver a baby. According to him, he drove quickly to St. V's (with a police escort after almost being arrested for speeding), delivered the first baby, then a second baby and also made a house call before returning to the course and joining his foursome for the second nine . . . or so the legend goes.

Jim also enjoyed spending time with his family at their cottage at Catawba Island. He was a member of Inverness Club, the Toledo Country Club and the Catawba Island Club. He was a parishioner of Gesu Church and in recent years attended Corpus Christi University Parish with his children.

The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Sunset Village for their constant care and love for Jim.

Services will be at Gesu Church, 2049 Parkside Blvd. Toledo, OH on Saturday, April 21st. Visitation will be held at 9 a.m. at the church, with mass at 10 a.m. Burial will be at Joy Cemetery. Donations in Jim's honor can be made to St. Francis de Sales High School, 2323 W. Bancroft Toledo, OH 43607. Online condolences may be shared at walkerfuneralhomes.com.



View the online memorial for James M. Diethelm, M.D.