Dorothy Ann Wolf, the daughter of Henry “Hank” and Ethel “Petie” (Harvey) Petersen was born July 20, 1939, at her parents’ home in Hamlin Township, Audubon County, Iowa and died May 4, 2020, at her home in Exira, Iowa at the age of 80 years, 7 months, and 14 days.
Dorothy was baptized at the Exira Christian Church in Exira. She attended rural school Hamlin #5 then graduated from the Exira High School with the Class of 1958. She studied at the Iowa State Teacher’s College in Cedar Falls, Iowa for a year and a half. Dorothy then worked in the Des Moines Corporate Office at Dahl’s Grocery Stores for four years and was later employed at Central Business Services in Des Moines for four years. She returned to Exira in 1969 and was employed at Henningsen’s Construction in Atlantic, Iowa.
On August 20, 1977, she was united in marriage to James Julius Wolf at the Exira Christian Church. They were blessed with one daughter, Shanna Ann. They lived northeast of Exira their entire married life. Dorothy continued working at Henningsen’s and later worked at Delong’s Sportswear before she retired in 2004. During this time, she also helped her sister Judy working at the Red Barn Cafe in Exira in her spare time.
In their younger years, Dorothy and James, along with their daughter, loved to travel to Colorado and Branson, Missouri. They always took a very active role in their daughter’s school activities and were always so proud of their family. During retirement, Dorothy loved being outdoors and working around their acreage. Both Dorothy and James took pride in their home and worked side by side with repairs needing done on the farm. Dorothy was also an avid sports fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, and the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Dorothy was an active member of the Exira Christian Church for many years serving as a Deacon, church treasurer, and chairperson of the funeral lunch committee for several years. In November 2016, she transferred her membership to Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. She was also very active in the Exira Lions Club where she served as the club treasurer for several years and received the Melvin Jones and Warren Coleman Awards.
Preceding her in death were her husband, James J. Wolf; her parents; her sister, Mary Jo Rustvold; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Robert Wheeler, Robert Green, Loretta Rustvold, Carl Simonsen, Norman Jayne, David Wolf, Ardith Wolf, Rosemary Wolf, and Charles Wolf; and her nephews: Brian Rustvold and Phillip Rustvold.
Survivors include her daughter, Shanna Wolf of Minneapolis, Minnesota; her grandpuppy, Harvey; her brother and sister: Richard and wife Marilyn Petersen of Audubon, Iowa and Judy Wheeler of Exira, Iowa; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Harold Rustvold of Audubon, Iowa; Phillip and wife Jane Wolf of Marionville, Missouri; Betty Simonsen and Harriet Jayne, both of Exira; and Wanda Wolf of Atlantic, Iowa; as well as nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
There will be an open visitation held on Friday, May 8, 2020 from 8:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira, Iowa. There will be a private family funeral service held at a later date at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira. Interment will be in the Exira Cemetery in Exira. Honorary casket bearers will be the Exira Lions Club, Terry and Norma Burger, Terrill and Mary Jo Burger, Rick and Kathy Bancroft, Robert and Donna Rugaard, and Becky Thompsen. Casket bearers will be Jerry Joens, Steve Mulford, Robbie Joens, Jacob Mulford, Eric Christensen, and Randy Thompsen.
