Donald Wolff

Donald Laurence WolffGILLETTE, WYOMING Funeral services for Donald Laurence "Don" Wolff, 85, will be held on Saturday, August 11, 2007 at 10:00 A.M. at Saint Matthew's Catholic Church in Gillette, Wyoming with Father Karl Millis, celebrant, and Father Cliff Jacobson, con-celebrant. Burial will follow the services at Mount Pisgah Cemetery in Gillette, Wyoming with full military honors. Viewing will beoffered at Stevenson-Wilson Funeral Home, 210 West 5th Street, Gillette, Wyoming at 4:00 P.M. - 7:00P.M. on Friday, August 10, 2007. Rosary will be lead by Father Karl Millis at 7:00 P. M. following visitation.Don, was a lifetime resident of Gillette, Wyoming having recently moved to Gilbert, Arizona where he passed away on July 30, 2007, surrounded by his two Daughters at the time of his passing with his Son and their Mother having just left to return to Gillette, Wyoming following their 13 day vigil at Don's side. Don was at the Hospice of the Valley, Dobson Home, in Chandler, Arizona at the time of his passing following a long battle with cancer. Other numerous family members had been with him prior to his passing. Don was born on February 25, 1922 to Henry and Catharine (O'Hara) Wolff of Gillette, Wyoming. He was the only child born at the Wolff ranch and home place 14 miles southeast of Gillette, Wyoming.He was one of 13 children born to the Henry and Catharine Wolff family. Don was raised on the 1911 Henry Wolff homestead ranch/farm one mile from his own ranch/farm. He attended a neighborhood elementary country school for the first eight grades and later graduated from Campbell County High School in 1940. He returned to his Father's ranch/farm following high school graduation, working there until volunteering in September 1942 for the United States Navy. During his service in the Navy, he patrolled the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California using antisubmarine and anti-torpedo nets. In 1943, he was shipped to the South Pacific, Marshall Islands, serving on Quadulane and Enewetak. After his honorary discharge from the Navy in 1945, Don returned to Gillette, Wyoming where he began his lifetime career of ranching and farming. He purchased his property for his ranch/farm 13 miles southeast of Gillette, Wyoming and named it the Sharp Butte Ranch, after the distinctive butte on the ranch, which was shown on all Wyoming highway maps for a great many years as it was and is a major government survey point. Part of the property bordered his Father's ranch/farm on which he was raised as a child. He then married Dorothy M. Felde of Rozet, Wyoming on October 23, 1947 and started his Family. He, with the support of his Family, worked hard on the ranch raising cattle, pigs, milk cows, and chickens. He sold cream to the Jersey Creamry in Sheridan, Wyoming for a number of years. He also raised wheat, barley, and oats as farm crops and alfalfa, oats, and Sudan grass as hay crops. He raised white faced Herefords and then black Angus cross bred cattle. He was well known in the cattle industry for his quality beef stock. He was also well known throughout the area for his various unique and innovative ranching and farmingmethods and techniques. He had established on his ranch/farm headquarters the largest shelter belt of trees in the state and surrounding states, initially over 3,000 trees and later another 1,000 trees. Numerous people and agencies from all over the state and surrounding states came to view what he had done, with various write ups being done concerning his accomplishment. In the surrounding area, he was instrumental in getting the first oil well drilled in 1959, which was on his ranch/farm, in getting the ranches/farms sold for coal beginning in 1973, and in getting the first telephone service, while helping to build it in 1965, and being the first rancher to have television in 1956. In many ways, he was ahead of his time. He moved from the ranch/farm in October 1979 to Gillette, Wyoming. He continued to work part time on the ranch/farm for several years. After retiring completely from the ranch/farm, he continued doing mechanical work as a hobby and traveling extensively nationwide in his motorhome with his Wife. He also spent much time visiting with his Children and their families, greatly enjoyinghis Grandchildren, while delighting in telling of his life events while in the service and on the ranch/farm. He had recently moved to Gilbert, Arizona in December 2006, spending his last days there. Don was very active in Saint Matthew's Catholic Church in Gillette, Wyoming serving as Eucharistic Minister, ushering, or leading the Rosary before daily Mass. He was a very strong advocate of the unborn. He recently traveled to Medjugorje, a highlight of his life, going on a spiritual pilgrimage there. He shared this trip with his two Daughters and their Husbands, as well as a Granddaughter, Melanie. His Wife was scheduled to go also, but was hospitalized at the time following major surgery. In his final days at Hospice, he still showed his kindness and gratitude, and respect for all of mankind. Don was loved and enjoyed by all who came to know him no matter where he was and everyone knew him for his integrity, fairness, and friendly and caring personality. Don was a lifetime member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. His service in the United States Navy was during World War II. He was also past member and past president of the National Farmers Union organization and current member of the Farmers Coop Association. He was also a past board member of Agricultural Soil Conservation Service.Don is survived by his Wife of over 59 years, Dorothy M. Wolff of Gillette, Wyoming, by his Son Laurence E. "Larry" Wolff of Gillette, Wyoming and Daughter-in-Law Anna Belle "Anne" Howard of Sheridan, Wyoming, and by his two Daughters, Donna J. (Kent) Macklin of Casper, Wyoming and Bonnie L. (Paul) Strube of Gilbert, Arizona. Don is also survived by his 9 Grandchildren and by his 7 Great-Grandchildren, with another Great-Grandchild due March 2008. Don is also survived by his five Brothers and one Sister, Louis F. of Salt Lake City, Utah, Vincent H. of Helena, Montana, Raymond R. (Phyliss) and Harry L. (Ruth) of Gillette, Wyoming and twin siblings, James A. (Joan) of Recluse, Wyoming and Joanne Randall of Cave Creek, Arizona and by many Nieces and Nephews. Don was preceded in death by his parents, by his 4 Sisters, Gertrude A. Wolff, Mary E. Shippy, Catharine M. "Kitty" Whisler, and Ruth A. Handran, and by his 2 Brothers, Thomas A. "Tom" and William E. "Ed" Wolff, and by his 1 Grandchild, Andrew Macklin.Memorials may be sent to Women's Resource Center of Gillette, Wyoming, P. O. Box 2289, Gillette, Wyoming 82717-2289 or Hospice of the Valley, Dobson Home, 1188 North Dobson Road, Chandler, Arizona 85224. Stevenson-Wilson Funeral Home of Gillette, Wyoming is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent via the internet at website http://www.stevensonwilson.com.