(Photo)

Mark Russell Wulf, “Chuck”, age 51 of Blair, passed away October 15, 2020 at Lakeside Hospital in Omaha.

Memorial services will be held Friday, October 23, 2020 at 10:30 AM at Reach Church (Formerly Country Bible Church), Blair, NE. Visitation will be held Thursday, October 22 from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Campbell Aman Funeral Home in Blair. A luncheon will be held following the graveside service at the Blair Fire Hall South Station.

Mark was born on August 25, 1969 in Blair, the son of Vernon and Lynn (Stewart) Wulf. He was raised in Blair and graduated from Blair High School in 1988. Prior to his senior year, Mark joined the Army Reserves and attended bootcamp in Ft. Benning, Georgia.

On September 25, 1993, he was united in marriage to Nicole Renae Smith at Country Bible Church in Blair. Mark worked construction most of his career; he began working for Ericksen Construction when he was 17 and most recently for Gethmann Construction as a heavy equipment operator, primarily running cranes. Mark was an active member of the Blair Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad and served just short of 30 years (February 7th, 1991). He was passionate about helping others, spending quality time with friends and family. He loved classic cars, especially his 1957 Chevy he purchased from his Aunt Nina, hunting, fishing and most of all he loved his girls.

Mark is survived by Niki; his daughters: Alexis and Berit; father Vernon; siblings: Michelle (Dave) Olson, Mike (Pam) Wulf, Mimi (Chad) Cemer; mother and father in law Steve and Peggy Howard; siblings-in-law: Nate (Holly) Smith, Shontelle Tweedy, Nicole (Steve) Bolton, Dan (Becky) Smith; along with many nieces, nephew, aunts, uncles, cousins and countless friends.

He was preceded in death by his mother Lynn, nephew Tyler Cemer, and his best friend Bryan Wrightson.

Memorials may be directed to the Blair Volunteer Fire and Rescue or an organization of the donor’s choice.

#2 article published in the October 23, 2020 Pilot-Tribune/Enterprise, by Elizabeth A. Elliot

(photos)

He could be seen on a crane, in an emergency vehicle, an old family vehicle or with his family.

Mark Wulf, 51, passed away Oct. 15 after fighting a rare form of cancer — small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of his colon. It metastasized to his liver and lower spine.

"Mark’s pride and joy was his girls, there is never any question of that," his wife, Niki, said. "He was a humble, hard working man who never needed to have material things to be happy."

A man of faith, baptized in the Jordan River, Wulf lived for his family and others.

His passing leaves a hole at home, at his job with Gethmann Construction, at the Blair Volunteer Fire Department, where he was a member for 29 years, and within his friends.

"Mark lived a spectacular life and provided his girls with cherished memories of love, blessings and miracles that we are so thankful to have witnessed," Niki said.

Nick Faue worked with Wulf at Gethmann for about eight years, where Wulf was one of the senior operators.

"He was more than just our crane operator," Faue said. "He was an all around guy. He just didn’t want to tell you that he could do stuff. Over the years, you’d figure out he was good at just about everything."

Faue said Wulf was always the one to help at work or outside of work.

"He was always available to be there. If you needed something, or a tool or advice, you could always go to him," he said. "If he didn’t know he would call someone. He was a great resource. If he didn’t know it he knew someone to call to ask questions."

When Wulf was interviewed earlier this year, he said he would rather be helping others than be receiving it.

"This last year he had to ask for a lot of help and a lot of people surprised him and stepped up and helped him with a lot of things," Faue said.

As part of the fire department, Wulf served as a mentor to Blair Fire Chief Joe Leonard.

"He trained me and he didn't get after a person if they messed up on something, he just showed you how to do it," Leonard said. "He was down to earth and lit up a room every time he was in it."

Wulf was the one who showed Leonard how to cut holes in a roof on Leonard's first structure fire he worked.

"He was a big follower of our Lord," Leonard said. "He traveled overseas to Jerusalem. His faith was huge in who he was."

Wulf wasn't the only one in his family in the fire department. A nephew, Nick, recently moved off probation, a brother was part of the team in the past and his grandfather was a firefighter with Kennard Volunteer Fire Department years ago.

Drivers surprised Wulf and his family May 2 during Blair's Cruise Night. They started the night driving past his house, then Wulf joined the parade in his '57 Chevrolet. It meant a great deal to him.

"He talked about it for weeks afterward," Faue said.

His friend, Perry Myers, said Wulf was always positive.

"Every time we got together we would laugh," he said. "He was a fun guy to hang out with."

Myers said Wulf had a strong faith.

"He didn't worry about where he was going. He didn't dwell on his situation at the end when you talked to him,” Myers said. “He talked about his girls. That was his only worry that someone looked out for his girls if he wasn't around to do so. He was always positive even to the end. He was always there for everyone else."

#3 Funeral Leaflet

(photos)

In Loving Memory of Mark Russell Wulf

Born August 25, 1969 Blair, Nebraska ~ Entered Into Rest October 15, 2020 Omaha, Nebraska

Funeral Service 10:30 AM Friday, October 23, 2020 Reach Church, Blair, Nebraska. Officiating: Nick Bank. Musical Selections: “I Can Only Imagine”; “It Is Well With My Soul”; “The Rose”

Honorary Pallbearers: Heith Olson, Zach Penry, Colby Olson, Nick Wulf, Kelton Olson, Spencer Wulf, Stewart Cemer, Jamie Rogge, Matt Wolff

Final Resting Place: Blair Cemetery, Blair, Nebraska

Campbell-Aman Funeral Home, Blair, Nebraska

A luncheon will be held at the Blair Fire Hall South Station after the graveside service.

~~~Obituaries and funeral leaflet courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Public Library, Blair, Nebraska~~~

FindaGrave #216993480