HENRY H. WOLF 1906-1996

WOLF, YEAGER, MICH

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 4/5/2007 at 21:30:49

Henry H. Wolf

Henry H. Wolf, M. D., son of Ethel and Peter Wolf, was born on September 24, 1906 in Chicago, Ill. He died April 6, 1996 at the Good Samaritan Center in Postville following a long illness with cancer. He was 89 years old.

He attended schools in Chicago and graduated from the University of Illinois College of Medicine in 1929. He took his internship at Cook County Hospital and his residency at Woodlawn Hospital in Chicago.

In 1931 Henry married Rose Yeager in Chicago. To this union, three children were born, Burton (Butch), Howard and Marcia. His wife, Rose, died in 1965.

In January of 1932 Henry and Rose moved to Elgin to begin his practice of medicine and surgery. His practice continued until his retirement on June 1, 1995, due to ill health. During his 69 and one half years of dedicated service to the area, he counted among his many blessings and wonderful memories, numerous caring patients and 2500 babies brought into this world.

Henry was active for many years in Lions Club, the school board that formed Valley High School and the Elgin Community Club. He was a lifetime member of the Iowa Medical Society, the American Medical Association and the American Association of Physicians and Surgeons. Both the state of Iowa and University of Illinois honored him for more than sixty years of medical practice. Henry was on the staff of both Postville and West Union hospitals.

Henry was an avid bridge player and baseball enthusiast. He was entrusted with the Adam Boleyn Fund, which was used to promote youth baseball in the community. He very much enjoyed working crossword puzzles, reading, and working in his yard and garden.

Henry was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, four brothers, two grandsons and a daughter-in-law. He is survived by sons, Dr. B. T. (Butch) and Jane Wolf of Woodstock, Ill., Dr. Howard Wolf of Boulder, Colo., a daughter, Marcia, of Denver, Colo., ten grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, a sister, Anne Mich of Lincolnwood, Ill., his devoted friend and companion of twenty years, Barbara Stockstill, and several nieces and nephews.

Henry's body has been donated to the University of Iowa College of Medicine. A memorial service was held at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Elgin, Iowa, on Monday, April 15, 1996 with Pastor Judy Deweber officiating. The organist was Carol Katsumes. Honorary bearers were Gerald Guyer, Chuck O'Neal, Stan Capper, Norris Capper, Eugene Erickson, Hank McMillan, Edna Klingman, Nona Torson, Art Lantz, Bob Medberry and all his dear friends. The family request no flowers. Memorials may be given to Heart of Iowa Hospice in West Union or Dollars for Scholars through Valley School to assist students who wish to enter a health care profession. Leonard Funeral Home of Elgin, Iowa was in charge of arrangements.

Postville Herald-Leader newspaper clipping from my mother's obituary collection. Submitter has no further information.

ELGIN DOCTOR WHO DELIVERED OVER 2,500 BABIES, DIES

By Jack Swanson, Union Ass't News Editor

Dr. Henry Wolf, who practiced medicine in the Elgin area for 63 and one half years, died Saturday after a long battle with cancer.

Wolf delivered over 2,500 babies in his long career and developed even more relationships with his many patients through the years.

"Every one of his patients had a personal piece of him," said longtime companion Barbara Stockstill.

Dr. Wolf is remembered throughout the Elgin Community for his humility and his generosity.

In the 1930's when Wolf began practice in Elgin, he accepted chickens, eggs and cords of wood in exchange for his services. "If it was a truly charity situation, he forgot the money altogether," Stockstill said.

Wolf and his wife, Rose, came from Chicago to Elgin in January of 1932, to begin his practice of medicine and surgery. He retired on June 1, 1995, due to ill health.

The couple raised two sons and a daughter. The sons followed their father into the medical field. Rose died in 1965.

"I think he'd like to be thought of as putting others first and himself second," Stockstill, a nurse for 55 years said. Stockstill said in her 55 years of nursing she had never met another doctor like him.

"He didn't seek notoriety. Everybody loved him and he loved everybody. He told me he didn't do anything special, just what he wanted and liked to do," she said about his career.

Elgin was Wolf's first place of private practice after a residency at Woodlawn Hospital in Chicago, and never left. [Dr. Wolf was on the staff of both the Postville and West Union hospitals.]

"He loved the area. The quiet surroundings. He said he felt like everyday was Sunday because everyone was so friendly all the time," Stockstill commented.

As far as areas of expertise ....Stockstill said, "He was awfully good at delivering babies and suturing up people so it didn't leave a big scar."

Stockstill said Dr. Wolf will probably also be missed not seen lying or kneeling in his yard pulling weeds. "Every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, you would see him lying on the ground pulling weeds. Many people thought he had just dropped over," Stockstill commented.

She also said that Dr. Wolf was very devoted to his 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren and them to him. "I've never seen anyone as devoted to a grandparent as they were," she said.

His memorial service will be 11 a.m., Monday, at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Elgin.

About all the things he is being remembered for and the recognition for his contributions Stockstill said, "He wouldn't have cared about it."

Postville Herald-Leader newspaper clipping from my mother's obituary and newspaper articles collection. Submitter has no further information.