Gale Wolf

Gale Arthur Wolf, 94, died peacefully in his home on November 24, 2024. He is survived by his wife, Jean Carol Wolf; and four children, Kathryn Wolf, Terri Wolf, Jeff Wolf and Pat Wolf. Gale was born into humble beginnings in Green Bay, to Sylvia and Art Wolf. He grew up playing music with his brother, Loren, and their mother, often performing at community events. Both boys were musicians in the Menominee Tribal Band that was selected to play for the Wisconsin Centennial Statehood Celebration in 1948.

Gale was active in many sports, playing basketball in high school and college. The family lived on Shawano Lake and ran a small resort with cabins featuring sing along campfire nights. Despite a small home, the family took in another family during the Great Depression. These early life experiences helped shape Gale into the ordained minister that he became in later years.

After high school, Gale pursued further education, eventually completing a master’s in psychology at UW-Madison, under the tutelage of Dr. Carl Rogers. Gale worked at several parishes before becoming youth minister at the First Congregational Church in Madison. He helped start the Sigma Nu youth group and they performed the popular musical “For Heaven’s Sake.” Friendships forged during that time became lifelong. Eventually Gale developed and directed Sunburst Youth Homes, a state of the art, residential facility for troubled youth. Sunburst was part of the Ministry of the United Church of Christ.

Gale was a loving family man who married Jean Sager in 1953. Early in their 71 years of marriage, they purchased a piece of property on Dead Pike Lake in Northern Wisconsin that anchored generations of family activities for decades, including kayaking, biking, sailing, swimming and skiing. It was here that Gale’s love of nature blossomed and he instilled this love in his family. He became a strong advocate for environmental protection.

Gale exemplified the very best of the Greatest Generation, always learning and curious about the world. Those who knew Gale expected his enthusiasm to spill over into their world with “must read” articles, “words of the day,” and “calls to action” on environmental and social justice issues. Never satisfied with the mundane, he was an intellectual who wrote incessantly on political, spiritual and environmental issues. He loved to read and write poetry. Hundreds of his editorials over many decades were published. They were clever, often humorous and always factual. He could change hearts and minds on issues. Gale was an excellent orator, with a booming deep voice that could shake a congregation or public hearing. He was a kind, friendly and generous man who touched the lives of many. Gale helped to make the world a better place and he will be missed.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established for youth environmental internships with the non-profit Southern Wisconsin Land Conservancy – Three Waters Reserve at: N3941 Golf Course Road, Brodhead, WI 53520.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com