Helmut Wolf

Dr. Helmut Wolf passed peacefully from this life in the early hours of the morning of May 19, 2025, at the age of 101 years. Born in Germany in 1924, he emigrated to the United States with his parents in the early 1930s. A quiet but curious boy, he delighted in exploring the woods near his home in Cleveland, OH, and excelled in math and science in school. He enrolled in mechanical engineering at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio, but his studies were cut short by service in the U. S. Army during World War II. He served in the 379th Infantry, was wounded twice, receiving two purple hearts, and was awarded a bronze star. Upon returning from the war, he met the love of his life, Jane, who became his wife in 1948. Their marriage lasted 66 years until Jane's passing in 2015.

After completing his bachelor's and master's degrees in mechanical engineering, Helmut worked at Kodak in Rochester, NY. During their years in New York State, Helmut and Jane participated in competitive archery, each winning a New York State championship in the same year. Helmut then decided to pursue a doctorate in mechanical engineering at Purdue University, studying under "Doc" Zucrow in the Purdue Rocket Lab. Upon receiving his degree, the family moved to California where Helmut worked at Rocketdye on the Saturn V rocket F1 and H1 engines. Subsequently, he joined the faculty of the University of Arkansas, where, as the Giffels' Chair Distinguished Professor, he taught mechanical engineering and supervised graduate students until his retirement in the late 80s. Helmut and Jane retired to Albuquerque, NM; they had fallen in love with the state during a sabbatical at Sandia Laboratories in 1985. In retirement, Helmut pursued his love of woodworking as a member of the Albuquerque Woodworkers Association, as well as skiing and ballroom dancing. He is survived by his daughters Cristine and Martha. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in memory of Helmut be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital here.