Long-time Chicago resident Helmut Krebs died peacefully Easter 4/17/22 age 87. His 50 years as Instrument Designer at University of Chicago included Manager of Physics' Central & Student Shops and mention in electron microscopy histories despite limited education in war-torn Europe. Awarded 3 patents & scientific paper authorship including Nature, notable professors publicly credited him; see his OrcId.org. Tribune noted his non-imaging optics work under Prof. Winston. On sabbatical 1978-9 he helped reorganize Univ. Arizona-Tucson's shop; he was also a Siemens microscopy contractor. Attending Hoetensleben, DDR high school, he was a Hilden, FRG journeyman machinist. A 1935 Lindenwerder Kolmar birth made him a 1945 refugee aged 10 due to Russia. He fled again to West Germany as lathe-trainee age 17 due to communism. Siblings & parents followed, incl. spectacular Iron Curtain escapes. A US citizen by 1963 & later investor, he immigrated to Chicago in 1956 w/ just $50. Predeceased by 7 siblings of parents Erna Ida Krebs nee Glockzin & Friedrich Krebs, late of greater Kaiserslautern, he's survived by ex-wife Irmgard Krebs nee Hutter, data scientist son Dr. Werner G. Krebs, Ph.D of USA, siblings Doris Fischer, Dietlinde Hiller, & Karl-Heinz Krebs of Germany plus many nieces & nephews in Europe. Funeral is on April 21, 2022 at 8:00 AM at Tohle Funeral 4325 W. Lawrence Ave ; donations may go through Tohle.