John DeWayne Wolf

John DeWayne Wolf, 92, of Kearney, died Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at Good Samaritan Society - St. Luke’s in Kearney. A “Celebration Of Life” service is scheduled at 11:00 a.m. Friday, May 15, 2015 at the First Lutheran Church with Pastor Eric Lesher officiating. Burial with military honors provided by the Nebraska National Guard will follow at Kearney Cemetery. Visitation is from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday at O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home. The family suggests memorials in DeWayne’s name to any of his favorite charities: First Lutheran Church, 3315 G Avenue, Kearney, NE 68847, Good Samaritan Society – St. Luke’s, 2201 East 32nd, Kearney, NE 68847 or UNK “Wolf Family Scholarship Fund”, P.O. Box 2678, Kearney, NE 68848. Online condolences may be shared at www.osrfh.com. O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. DeWayne was born April 24, 1923, in Kearney to John D. Wolf and Evelyn M. (Drake) Wolf. On December 18, 1948, he married Beverly J. Goldenstein in Smith Center, KS. Wolf graduated from Kearney High School in 1940 and attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, NE. While in college, he was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. He played trombone in the UNL concert and marching bands and later became Drum Major. During the train trip to march in the 1941 Rose Bowl, DeWayne and six other band members wrote the “Band Song” still performed by the Cornhusker Marching Band today. He joined the U.S. Army in 1943, completed basic training at Fort Roberts, CA, then studied engineering at the University of California at Berkeley in preparation for the Manhattan Project. Known by his first name John while in the Army, he was assigned to the 11th Armored Division as a “computer” in the Fire Direction Center for an armored field artillery battalion. T/Sgt. Wolf fought in the Battle of the Bulge, helped liberate the Mauthausen concentration camp, and saw combat in Belgium, Germany, and Austria under the command of General George Patton. Upon discharge in 1945, Wolf attended the University of Michigan Law School, graduating in 1948. He returned to Kearney and practiced law for 25 years until his appointment as District Judge for Buffalo and Sherman Counties from 1976 to 1990. Judge Wolf created the position of Child Custody Officer, the first real effort by a Nebraska court to mediate child custody and visitation issues in the best interests of the children. His “Marital Property Statement” made it easier for attorneys and judges to determine the assets and debts of divorcing couples, so the form was widely adopted by other district courts statewide. After his retirement, Judge Wolf was appointed as an Acting Justice on the Nebraska Supreme Court to hear several cases. DeWayne was active in civic affairs, helping the city obtain Frontier Airlines as its first commercial airline service. He represented the Kearney Chamber of Commerce in successfully obtaining approval of Interstate 80’s route through Kearney. Wolf helped obtain legislation creating the Central Nebraska Community College and served as the college’s Legal Counsel for ten years until his appointment to the bench. He served on the original board of Senior College of Central Nebraska and was Treasurer of the group for the first six years of its history. An active Lutheran, DeWayne chaired the building committees for the construction of both Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Kearney and the Campus Lutheran worship center at the University of Nebraska – Kearney. An avid reader, golfer, and Nebraska football fan, DeWayne enjoyed traveling with his wife and friends, and hosting family reunions. DeWayne moved to Northridge retirement community in April 2012, then he joined wife Beverly at St. Luke’s where he and his family celebrated his 92nd birthday on April 24th. Survivors include wife Beverly; son Chuck Wolf and wife Melanie Miller of Sugar Land, TX; son John Wolf of Kearney; daughters-in-law Pam Wolf of Lincoln, NE, and Nancy Wolf of Monroe, WA. Wolf’s seven grandchildren include Angela Tullos and husband Jimmy of Flower Mound, TX; Amy Sayre and husband Herb of Frisco, TX; David Wolf and wife Christina of Frisco, TX; Sarah Collinge and husband Max of Bothell, WA; Bethany Robinson and husband Craig of Snohomish, WA; Andrew Wolf and fiancé Anna Claire Stearns of Lincoln, NE; and Becca Wolf of Lincoln, NE. He is also survived by eight great-grandchildren and his brother, Robert Wolf of Champaign, IL. DeWayne’s parents and his youngest son, Stephen Wolf, preceded him in death.

John DeWayne Wolf

April 24, 1923 - May 12, 2015