Kathleen Wolf

Kathleen Sloan 'Katie' Wolf of Traverse City, passed away on August 20, 2009 at home in Traverse City in the loving care of her family and hospice professionals. She enjoyed a long and full life as a person of deep faith, strong will, good works, and as the amazing rock of family support. She was born in Bowling Green, Ohio on Sept. 5, 1925 as the only child of Arthur and Matilda Sloan. After graduating from high school she attended and graduated from the University of Michigan School of Nursing in 1946. Katie worked at the University of Michigan Hospital as a Pediatric nurse and at Children's Hospital in Denver. She also shared her professional skills as a volunteer and neighborhood nurse, which, given the tendencies of her three boys and the tribes of Park Street brickyard and Maple Avenue sandlot, was noble and worthy service. Katie joined her lifelong love and soul mate, Marvin Wolf, MD in marriage in 1948. They shared their great life journey as a loving couple, professionals, parents and grand parents in Denver, Adrian, Central Lake and finally in Traverse City. Katie and Marv retired in 1990 to their "summer place" on the lake, a venue where many fine and happy days were had with friends and family. They moved to Traverse City in 1996. She inherited the legacy of servant leaders, helping advance school budgets, building health resources, guiding social programs, pounding the pavement for candidates, standing up against nonsense and showing the way for younger women. As a parent, Katie balanced her quiet faith and her own formula of impatience with high standards, raising boys. As a life mate, she found ways to shape Marv that were meaningful at home, and valued in the community. As a friend, she was fiercely loyal, completely devoted, always ready and rarely without an opinion. As an adversary, beware. As a colleague, simply wow. As a project leader, get ready for results. Katie built the "prom dinner at home" series. She warmed young sailors at Devils Lake and little skiers at Walloon Hills. She carted sports fans and YMCA troops, and she put the order into things that needed order. She blended command and control with a wisdom that few will ever know, and she loved and parented others in ways that only few will ever understand. Katie put everyone above herself. Everyone, Everyday. She was and is a mirror to the candle, a complex and powerful force of life. She enjoyed a good book, a glass of wine, gardening, bridge, and the company of friends and her grand dogs. She was an active member of Tau Delta and Alpha Omega sororities in Adrian. She worked with friends in the craft business in Lansing. She pitched in with full support on civic projects that made a difference. She told her children and her co-workers to figure things out for themselves, and then she got down in the trenches and helped them succeed. Katie was baptized and married in the Presbyterian Church of Bowling Green. She served as Elder in the Presbyterian Church of Adrian and as one of the "church ladies" at the Congregational Church in Central Lake. She is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Traverse City. She leaves behind a loving husband of 61+ years, Marv, and their sons and families, Michael and Gloria Wolf, Daniel and Julie Wolf, Timothy and Michele Wolf, with grandchildren Charles, Jared, Megan and Ian. She also leaves behind the party of some very great and hearty friends. The family wishes to express its heartfelt thanks to the many professionals of Munson Healthcare who served Katie in her life and transition. Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 29, 2009 at Eleven a.m. at the Presbyterian Church of Traverse City, 702 Westminster, with Rev. Dr. Homer E. Nye officiating. A luncheon will follow at the church. The family will receive friends from ten a.m. until time of services. Private family interment will take place at Southern Cemetery in Central Lake Twp. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Munson Hospice, 550 Munson Ave., Traverse City, MI 49684. Arrangements by the Central Lake Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes. Please sign our online guestbook at www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com.