John Allen Wolfe died suddenly on June 30, at the age of 81.
He was born in Cleveland, Ohio on Aug. 8, 1933 to Francis and Emma Wolfe.
His father, Francis, worked at Ravenna Arsenal in Ohio.
John graduated from Windham High School, where he enjoyed playing basketball and other sports.
He enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving four years. This included time stationed at NAS Whidbey Island, which greatly impressed the young man from Ohio. He finished his tour in 1956 as an aviation ordinance man second class.
After leaving the Navy, John attended Kent State University, where he met a young student, Jacqueline (Jackie) Runo. They were married in Euclid, Ohio, on Aug. 27, 1960.
Following graduation from college, John began teaching junior high students at St. Patrick’s Catholic School in Kent. He went on to teach industrial arts in Mantua, Ohio.
John left teaching and, after moving to St. Louis, began work as a cartographer. He then moved with his young family to begin working for Boeing in Washington State in the mid-1960s. After leaving Boeing, John took a position with the federal civil service in public works, maintenance control department. He lived in Bellevue and then on Bainbridge Island while working at the Keyport Naval Undersea Warfare Engineering Station. In 1972, John transferred to work at NAS Guam. Four years later, he returned to Bainbridge Island, just after a major typhoon. Bainbridge became home port as the government sent them to Naval Stations in Hawaii, twice to Atsugi, Japan, and Rota, Spain, returning to Bainbridge between each overseas assignment.
John retired in 1995. That same year, he and Jackie began building a retirement home on Whidbey Island where he had served in the Navy years before. Jackie continued to work as a lab technician at Naval Hospital Oak Harbor until her retirement.
John was an elite runner and athlete, participating in many marathons and races. It is calculated he ran the circumference of the earth over two times. He also enjoyed hiking, hunting, fishing, camping, music, Sudoku and computers. He had a special passion for reading. He also experienced hiking the Pacific Crest Trail with his son, Mike. Most of all, he loved his family, was happy in life and rejoiced in life’s simple pleasures.
John is survived by his wife, Jackie, to whom he was married for 55 years; three sons, James M. Wolfe and his wife, Stacie of Custer, Mich. Robert E. Wolfe of Oak Harbor, and Michael A. Wolfe and his wife Robin of Las Vegas, Nev.; and by two grandchildren, Jeremy and Joshua. He is also survived by four siblings, James Wolfe and his wife, Suzue of Newton Falls, Ohio, Pat Ard of Ravenna, Ohio, Gloria Ellenburg of Solon, Ohio and Darlene Roosa and her husband Lee of Warren, Ohio. He is preceded in death by his parents, two siblings, and a daughter-in-law, Linda.
Please make donations to a charity of choice.
A funeral mass for John will be celebrated at 10 a.m., July 8, at St. Augustine Catholic Church. Rev. Jerry Kienzle will serve as celebrant. Rites of committal and military honors will follow at 10:30 a.m., July 9, at Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent, Wash. Please visit John’s page in Book of Memories at www.wallinfuneralhome.com to share memories and condolences. Arrangements are entrusted to Wallin Funeral Home and Cremation, LLC, Oak Harbor.
