Loki Schmidt, the childhood sweetheart and wife for nearly seven decades of former chancellor Helmut Schmidt, died at home overnight at the age of 91, a spokesman confirmed Thursday, DPA reported.
Loki Schmidt, maiden name Glaser, had suffered a fall at home in September, and underwent an operation on her foot. She was released from hospital on October 6.
Loki and Helmut Schmidt married in 1942, before the latter began his political career. Helmut Schmidt counts as one of the preeminent chancellors in post-war Germany, having faced down left-wing terrorists and fought for the cause of European unity. He was in office from 1974 to 1982.
Loki was known for her efforts to protect endangered wildflowers in Germany, and has a species named after her. In 2009 she was awarded the honorary citizenship of the northern city of Hamburg, of which both Loki and Helmut are natives.