Death of Henry H. Diehl, Former Missionary to Ghana

1928 – 2011

Global Ministries was saddened to learn of the death of Henry H. Diehl, former missionary to Ghana, on July 17, 2011. 

 

Henry H. Diehl, of Defiance, Ohio, was born May 7, 1928, in Springfield, Ohio, to Warren and Marjorie (Beard) Diehl. A graduate of Oberlin College in 1952, Henry completed his master’s at Ohio State University, where he met his future wife, Johanna. A lieutenant in the Army, Henry served as an encryption decoder during the last of the Korean War. He taught math at Southern Union College in Alabama and at Wittenberg University in Ohio. Henry and Johanna then journeyed to Ghana, West Africa, in 1962 to serve as UCC missionaries until 1969. Henry was a professor of mathematics at Defiance College from 1969 – 1993.

With close friends and relatives from around the globe, Henry viewed the world as One Family, working hard to end hunger, poverty, and injustices. He served with CROP, Heifer Project, St. John United Church of Christ, the Overground Railroad, the United Church Board of World Ministries, the Defiance Democratic Central Committee and the Northwest Ohio Community Action Board.

Henry is survived by his wife of 55 years, Johanna Diehl; daughter Debra (Peter) Lenhart of Defiance; sons, Gregory (Laurel) of Watertown, Massachusetts, Kwame (Amanda) of Juneau, Alaska, and Kwasi of Eugene, Oregon; 12 grandchildren; and sister-in-law, Jean Diehl.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Warren; and a son, Steven.

Services were held 12:30 p.m. Saturday, July 23, at St. John United Church of Christ. Messages of condolence may be sent to his wife, Johanna Diehl, 337 Maywinn Drive, Defiance, OH   43512-1756.  Memorials may be made to Defiance College, 701 North Clinton Street, Definance, OH   43512 or St. John United Church of Christ (Heifer Project), 950 Weber Street, Defiance, OH   43512-1682.