Frank J. “Fritz” Wolff, 88

Frank J. “Fritz” Wolff, 88, of Blair died Wednesday, May 16, 2012, at Memorial Community Hospital in Blair.

Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, May 19, at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Blair. Visitation will begin at Campbell-Aman Funeral Home Friday at 1 p.m. with family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m. Interment will be in the Blair Cemetery.

Frank Jean “Fritz” Wolff was born October 14, 1923, at home in Fort Calhoun to Frank Joseph and Louise (Bolln) Wolff.

His family moved to Blair in 1935 and he graduated from Blair High School in 1940.

He enrolled as a business major at the University of Nebraska where he was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity and lettered as a player on Nebraska’s baseball team.

In November 1942, as World War II progressed, he left college to serve his country and joined the Army Air Corps to become an aviation cadet. Mr. Wolff trained on the PT-13, the AT-6 and the B-25. He earned his wings and was commissioned as a lieutenant. He earned his multi-engine, commercial and instrument ratings. He was flying B-25s while awaiting training for service in the Pacific Theatre when the war came to an end.

Mr. Wolff returned to Nebraska and graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1947 with a degree in business administration and entered the jewelry business. He and his sister, Bette, opened Bette’s Gifts and Jewelry which later became Wolff’s Jewelry with stores in Blair and Harlan and Atlantic, Iowa.

On March 12, 1950, he married Wilma Elson at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Blair. They made their home and raised their family in Blair. In 1979, they moved to Atlantic to run the Atlantic jewelry store. Upon retiring in 2006, the couple moved back to Blair.

He enjoyed dancing, playing baseball, softball, golf and cards, and was an avid Husker fan. He was a Rotary Club member in Blair and Atlantic, a member of the Blair American Legion, served on the board of directors for the Nebraska and South Dakota Jeweler’s Associations and was the last original member of the Black Elk-Neihardt Park Board of Directors.

He loved God and was an active member of St. Mary’s for 62 years.

He loved people, and his greatest legacy was his love for his family and friends.

He is survived by his wife, Wilma; his sons and daughters-in-law, Frank and JoLynn and Jon and Cheryl; his daughter and son-in-law, Retta and Ray Sheriff; grandsons, Matt, Jay, Steve, Jeremy, Victor, Dillon, Noland and Patrick; granddaughter, Jennie Smoyer; 11 great-grandchildren; and many loved cousins.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Bette Triplett.

Memorials are suggested to St. Mary’s Episcopal Church or Blair Volunteer Fire and Rescue.

#2 In Loving Memory of Frank “Fritz” J. Wolff

Born October 14th , 1923 Fort Calhoun, Nebraska ~ Entered Into Rest May 16, 2012 Blair, Nebraska

Funeral Services 11:00 AM Saturday, May 19th, 2012 St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Blair, Nebraska. Officiating: Father John Symonds. Organist: Clare Cowing. Congregational Hymns: “Jesus Christ Is Risen Today”, “Amazing Grace”, “Rock of Ages”, “On Eagle’s Wings”

Pallbearers: Matt Wolff, Jay Wolff, Steve Wolff, Jeremy Wolff, Jennie Wolff-Snyder, Victor Wolff, Dillon Wolff, Nolan Wolff, Patrick Wolff

Honorary Pallbearers: Pat Long, Carl Lorenzen, Gene Megrue, Jason Cloudt, Dean Ogle, Richard Hineline

Military Graveside Service Blair Cemetery, Blair, Nebraska

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

FindaGrave memorial # 90316394