Father Wolf
Grand Island Independent, July 5, 1918

"God's Finger Touched Him and He Slept"

In few cases is the touching sentence more applicable than it was at an early hour this morning, when the Very Rev. Father W. Wolf passed away. There was called to his reward a beloved man who had given his life in the services of others. There was taken from his circle of friends and co-laborers one who had been particularly unselfish, kindly, and ministering in both a spiritual and material way throughout a lifetime. Many a one, even outside the circle of his own church, will experience keen regret when hearing of the passing away of this well known divine. Connected with St. Mary's Church of this city since October, 1886, over thirty years ago, his was a record of duty well and faithfully done. May he rest in peace.

Very Rev. W. Wolf was born in Westphalia, Germany, February 22, 1854. He received his education in the college of Paderborn, which institution he attended for nine years. In 1876, he emigrated to the United States and landed in New York on November 1 of that year. He at once entered St. Francis' Seminary of Milwaukee, where he completed his full course of theological studies and was ordained on June 27, 1880, for the vicariate of Nebraska. He was appointed assistant to Father Smith of O'Connor, Greeley County, Nebraska, for a year; and then spent five years as pastor of the Missions of Crete and Friend, now in the diocese of Lincoln. On October 9, 1886, he entered upon his duties as pastor of St. Mary's, Grand Island, where he discharged his ministerial labors since that time with distuinguished ability. He was appointed dean of Grand island deanery on March 1, 1887; it being the largest deanery in respect to territory in the world.

When Father Wolf was appointed to St. Mary's parish, he found there a small wooden church much too small for the congregation. He at once began arrangements to build a new church. Success crowned his efforts and on August 15, 1888, Right Rev. Bishop O'Connor laid the cornerstone of the present structure. On July 7, 1889, the completed new building was dedicated by Vicar General Shaffel, the Bishop's representative.

Father Wolf saw that his next greatest need was a parochial school. In 1893, the property on which St. Mary's school now stands was purchased and the new school was opened to the pupils of the parish in September of that year. After having secured a beautiful church and a good parochial school, Father Wolf finally built the present parochial residence in 1907. Thus the people of St. Mary's parish have as fine a piece of church property as can be found in Nebraska, all due to the untiring zeal of Father Wolf.

Owing to failing health, Father Wolf resigned as pastor of St. Mary's church and became chaplain of St. Francis' hospital. He has made the hospital his home ever since, ceasing all active duties in June, 1917. However, he has been a welcome caller on the sick during this year, making his way about the hospital in this invalid chair.

Father Wolf's demise occurred at 1:30 o'clock this morning at the St. Francis hospital. The funeral will take place on Tuesday morning at St. Mary's Catholic church, when requiem high mass will be celebrated.

The present pastor of this church is Father A. W. Heimes, who came to Grand Island from the pastorate at St. Libory. The work of this parish has increased to such proportions that Father Heimes has been given as assistant a number of times. His first assistant was Father Giblin.