Lyle E. Wolff, “The Big Bad Wolf,” 92, passed away peacefully Tuesday night, Sept. 8, 2015, surrounded by his loving family.
Lyle was born June 2, 1923, to Eddie and Gertrude Wolff, of Black Creek. As a young boy he moved to Appleton, graduating with the Class of 1941. He then entered the U.S. Coast Guard and served in World War II. In 1943, while on a 48-hour leave, Lyle married his high school sweetheart, Lila Ziegelbauer, and together they celebrated 62 happy years of marriage.
After the war ended, Lyle was a traveling salesman and, as fate would have it, he met an old friend, Louie Brunner, who was planning on opening a business in Oconto Falls. He came home to tell his wife and she said, “Where is that?” They opened a roofing/hardware store in 1947, calling it United Hardware. Lyle became a licensed plumber and heating specialist. Their business thrived on Main Street in Oconto Falls for 30 years.
Lyle and Lila always wanted to help develop Oconto Falls, and in 1975, they sold the heating and plumbing business and bought Henry Marks’ farmland property on the edge of the city to build a 25,000-square-foot hardware store. He was told at his age of 54, he was crazy, and the store was too big for Oconto Falls. Their foresight proved to be right, and they celebrated 68 years in business.
Throughout his life, Lyle was an avid hunter and fisherman (with many stories) and took trips with his buddies up to Canada until age 91. He was a great inventor and had many machines he built through the years, including the Dunebuggy, the Coot, the Fishing Machine, Floating Water Shoes, the Seagull, Motorized Ice Fishing Shack “For Old Men” and the “Over the Hill Gang Truck.”
He also became a pilot in midlife. He co-owned and flew a plane, taking many friends for rides over Wisconsin and his favorite town of Oconto Falls.
Lyle was a longtime member of Grace Lutheran Church, where he served on the church council and volunteered much of his time building the new church in 1960. Although he never golfed until later years, Lyle was a charter member and instrumental in developing River Island Golf Course, where he volunteered his expertise in plumbing and heating, for the community. He was a volunteer fireman for many years, member of the Snow Jokers and the Lions Club and had continued to be on the board of directors of the Senior Citizen Center. He was the longest-serving member of the Oconto Falls American Legion Post 302, with more than 60 years of membership. Lyle was proud to go on one of the Honor Flights for veterans of World War II.
He loved spending time with his family and friends. Lyle especially loved Tuesday night “Double Bubble” at his home and continued this tradition weekly at the conference rooms at the nursing home facility and Meadowlands, sometimes having 20 people in attendance.
Lyle is survived by his daughter, Nancy (Wally) Weiss, Oconto Falls; five grandchildren, Donna (Dan) Harris, Debbie (Scott) Bushman, Denise (Keith) Kinjerski, Laura (Adam) Zielinski, Lisa (Cory) Bailey; eight great-grandchildren, Denae (Justin) Schenkoski, Christopher and Alex Harris, Kamin Vandenlangenburg, Jayden Laurent, Myles, Oliver and Lyla Bailey; three great-great-grandchildren, Aurora and Rykr Schenkoski and Wesley Harris; one brother, Glen Wolff, Appleton, and his three daughters, Kathy, Susie and Carol.
He was preceded in death by the love of his life, Lila Wolff; his parents; his in-laws, Arthur and Marie Ziegelbauer; his daughter and son- in-law, Bette and John Baenen; and sister-in-law, Beverly Wolff.
The family wishes to extend special thanks to his longtime doctor, Dr. Maltinski, and the staffs at both Sharpe Care and Meadowlands and Heartland Hospice who assisted in his last days.
Lyle was a great father, grandfather and friend who left his mark on Oconto Falls and the hearts of all who knew and loved him.
Visitation with the urn present was held from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15, at Jones Funeral Service in Oconto Falls. Visitation continued at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2015, at Grace Lutheran Church in Oconto Falls until the time of service. Memorial services were held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the church with Pastor Carol Neitzel officiating. Burial will take place in Riverside Cemetery, Appleton, at a later date.
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