Velda Wolf

Velda Marie Wolf, 93, of Traverse City, passed on peacefully at home on Thursday, April 9, 2020, with her adoring family at her side, reuniting with her husband, Don, in eternity. Velda was born on June 17, 1926, on the family farm near Grawn, to Lovina (Lola) and Raphael (Ray) Saxton. She attended Interlochen and Traverse City schools, graduating from Central High in 1944. On January 17, 1948, in Traverse City, she married her loving husband of 68 years, Donald E. Wolf, who preceded her in death in 2016. 'Vel' was a homemaker early on, raising 3 children with Don in the home they built and shared for 60 of those years. At 40, she went to work at Chef Pierre/Sara Lee Bakery, retiring after 27 years of dedicated service. As the youngest of 10 growing up during the Great Depression, she learned to be a wise and thrifty shopper, finding 'on sale', 're-sale', and 'yard-sale' bargains throughout her life. She spent little on herself, however, using what she saved to buy generous gifts for her loved ones. Mom especially enjoyed going to Bingo, yard sales, gardening, and feeding the deer, ducks, squirrels, and birds in her backyard ("but not those nasty crows"). She rarely missed games involving the Spartans, Wolverines, Lions, or especially her beloved Tigers. Her favorite pastime by far, however, was doting on her family. She hosted celebrations for every birthday and holiday, with special gifts and wonderful buffet meals, capped each year by a Christmas to remember. She lived a simple and modest life, but always paid it forward, leaving a surplus of good to the benefit of all. She was our guiding light, moral compass and best friend and we share her legacy of fairness, friendship and joyful living. Besides her husband and parents, Velda was preceded in death by: her 9 siblings and their spouses; Art (Beulah), Nellie (Louie), Delbert (Elma), Ethelyn (Slim), Louise (George), Robert (Evelyn), Margaret (Tony), Gordon (Kate), and Bill (Jane), her sisters-in-law; Doris Wolf and Deanna Miller, brothers-in-law; Stanley, Paul, and Brian Wolf, and Bernie Miller. She is Survived by: her children; Curtis (Jeanne) Wolf, Marilyn (Robert II) Weber, and Donald S. Wolf, grandchildren; Angel (Sam Ellis) and Lisa Wolf, Nick, Chris (Suzie), Danielle, and Hayley Weber, McKenzie and Cade Wolf, and her treasured great granddaughter, Eva Skye Gifford, (who adored her 'gramma gigi'), brother-in-law Jack (Marge) Wolf, sisters-in-law; Bridie and Joanna Wolf, and Marie Arsenault, as well as many dear nieces and nephews. The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to the Traverse City Munson Healthcare Home Hospice Team for their compassion and guidance. Memorial contributions may be directed to Munson Hospice at http://www.munsonhealthcarehospice.org. Burial will take place Wednesday, April 15, 2020, at 2:00 pm at the St Mary's of Hannah cemetery with a brief service. A celebration of Velda’s life will be held at a later date. The family is being cared for by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services. Please share your memories of Velda with her family by way of her online guestbook at http://www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com.

Velda Wolf

June 17, 1926 - April 9, 2020