List of Famous people who died in 2017

Miep Diekmann was a Dutch writer of children's literature.

Henriette Ellen Kathrine Vilhelmine Rasmussen née Jeremiassen was a Greenlandic educator, journalist, women's rights activist and politician. In 1992, she provided support for the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and in 1996, was appointed principal advisor to the ILO in connection with the 1989 Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention. As a member of Inuit Ataqatigiit from the early 1980s, she strove for Greenlandic independence from Denmark and served as Greenland's Minister of Culture and Education (2003–2005).

Waldtraut Lewin was a German writer, dramaturge and stage director.

Graham Paul Webb was an English racing cyclist who became the world amateur road race champion in 1967. In response to a journalist's shouted comment that the last British amateur world road champion had been Dave Marsh 45 years earlier, Webb retorted: "And they'll have to wait another 45 years before another British rider wins." Not only did no British man win a world road race championship in the following 45 years, but none can now win the amateur championship as the segregation between amateur and professional cycling no longer exists.

Masahide Ōta was a Japanese academic and politician who served as the governor of Okinawa Prefecture from 1990 until 1998. After starting his career as a professor at the University of the Ryūkyūs, he wrote books in English and Japanese, mostly about the Battle of Okinawa and Japan–United States bilateral relations following World War II. After his retirement as professor he was elected as governor and was best known for his strong stand against occupation of prefectural lands by military bases of United States, going against the Japanese central government at the time.

Jonas Henrique Pessalli was a Brazilian professional footballer who played as a Midfielder.

Bernd Thiele was a German footballer. He made 178 appearances in the Bundesliga and played 91 matches in the 2. Bundesliga for Schalke 04 and Hannover 96.

Lau Wong-fat, GBM, GBS, OBE, JP was a Hong Kong businessman and politician. He had been the long-time chairman of the Rural Council, the most powerful organ representing the interests of the New Territories indigenous inhabitants from 1980 to 2015. He was also a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong from 1985 to 2016. From 2009 to 2012 he was a non-official member of the Executive Council of Hong Kong. He had also served as the member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and chairman of the Regional Council and the Tuen Mun District Council.

Manfred Jung was a German operatic tenor, who performed Wagner's heldentenor roles internationally, including the Metropolitan Opera and the Bayreuth Festival where he was Siegfried in the Jahrhundertring, but he also sang all other tenor roles in Der Ring des Nibelungen.

Tomás Villanueva Rodríguez was a Spanish politician. He was born in Valladolid and held several positions in the Junta of Castile and León. He was involved in various corruption scandals, and was set to appear before court in late 2017. However, on 7 September 2017, at the age of 64, Villanueva died suddenly of a heart attack.