Joseph Martin Wolf

Joseph Martin Wolf was born November 10, 1916 near Hillsview, South Dakota to parents Mary & Melchior Wolf. He was the 6th of 13 children having six brothers and six sisters. He was born at home on the family truck farm. In 1933 Joe moved with his family to Clinton, Missouri. Attending high school required living in town and working for his room and board. He went on to complete one year at Warrensberg Teachers College. While in high school he met the love of his life, Grace Kathryne “Kay” Clifton and they were married in 1939. Joe & Kay were devoted to each other throughout their 71-year marriage, always working as a team. In 1941 they moved to Oakland, California where Joe began his 35-year career working for the Southern Pacific Railroad. Joe took a hiatus from the railroad to serve his country with the Merchant Marines in the Pacific arena, during World War II. He was very patriotic, one of the 'greatest generation.' Joe and Kay lived in Hayward and Castro Valley, CA while raising their children, Joseph Rex and Sandra Kay. While their children were young, Joe and Kay were active in their church and also enjoyed square-dancing and ballroom dancing.

Joe was quite an entrepreneur, raising chinchillas, selling insurance, investing in real estate and also raised livestock and vegetables for food all the while maintaining a full-time job with the Southern Pacific Railroad.

After their retirement, they moved to Orange County, CA where they lived for 23 years before relocating to Rogue River four years ago.

Joe enjoyed playing shuffleboard and attained California mixed-doubles champion and was captain of his traveling team for many years. He loved nothing better than to share stories of his past, tell jokes, play cribbage and spend time with family and friends. His was a life well-lived which is attested to by the love his immediate and extended family have for him. Joe loved his family, enjoying each one. He loved his church family at Hope as well, which was generously returned. Now Joe is rejoicing in the presence of God. He will be dearly missed by all.