James Julius Wolf

James Julius Wolf, the son of Julius Jens and Cecelia Leone (Thielen) Wolf, was born February 22, 1935, at his parents’ home in Hamlin Township Audubon County, Iowa and died January 28, 2017, after a short illness surrounded by his family in his home north of Exira, Iowa at the age of 81 years, 11 months, and 6 days.
Jim was baptized and confirmed at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Exira, Iowa. He attended rural school at Hamlin #7 then the Exira Community Schools graduating with the High School Class of 1953. Following graduation Jim worked for his father and neighbors. In April of 1959, he was inducted into the United States Army. He took his basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood in Missouri and received advanced medical training at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas. He served 19 months in Nellingen, Germany. Jim was honorably discharged in March of 1961. He returned to Exira and helped operate the family farm with his father and brother David.
On August 20, 1977, he was united in marriage to Dorothy Ann Petersen at the Exira Christian Church in Exira, Iowa. They were blessed with one daughter Shanna. Jim continued to farm until 1990 then worked for Nelson Land Improvement and then EBI in Audubon retiring in April of 2004. During retirement he enjoyed going to coffee at the Red Barn and Darrell’s Place. Jim enjoyed being outdoors and spent many hours caring for their property. He was an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan and an avid Green Bay Packers fan.
Jim was an active member of the Exira Christian Church in Exira, Iowa where he served as a member of the Church Board, and served as a Deacon and an Elder. Later Jim became a member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. Jim was an active member of Exira Lions Club. He served as President and Membership Chair and received the Warren Coleman Award.
Preceding him in death were his parents; his infant sister Rosemary Wolf and infant brother Charles Wolf and brother David Wolf;; his mother-in-law and father-in-law Henry (Hank) and Ethel (Petie) Petersen his sisters-in-law Ardith Wolf and Mary Jo Rustvold; his brothers-in-law Carl Simonsen, Norma Jayne, Robert Wheeler; and Loretta Rustvold and Robert Green.
Survivors include his wife Dorothy Wolf of Exira, Iowa; his daughter: Shanna Wolf of Minneapolis, Minnesota; his sisters and brother Betty Simonsen and Harriet Jayne both of Exira, Iowa and Phylip and wife Jane Wolf of Marionville, Missouri; his brothers-in-law and his sisters-in-law: Richard and wife Marilyn Petersen of Audubon, Iowa, Judy Wheeler of Exira, Iowa, Harold Rustvold of Audubon, Iowa and Wanda Wolf of Atlantic, Iowa; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Doug Opp on Wednesday, February 1, 2017, at 10:30 A.M. at the Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. Interment will be in the Exira Cemetery in Exira Iowa. The honorary casket bearers are the Exira Lions Club. The casket bearers will be Randy Thompson, Terrill Burger, Neal Wolf, Craig Simonsen, Rick Thompson and Tyler Wilson. The family will meet with friends Tuesday evening, January 31, 2017, at 6:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira, Iowa.