Don Allen Wolf

Don Allen Wolf, age 90, died Wednesday, September 11, 2019 at the Townhouse Retirement Center in Fort Wayne.  Mr. Wolf was born on a farm near New Haven, Indiana on June 18, 1929 to Ellis and Bessie (Fortnam) Wolf.  He married Virginia Ann Lunz in 1949 at Trinity English Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne. Don had a very rewarding career at HWI/Do it Best Corp.  He started with HWI in 1947 and worked in various departments, always with the goal of helping the company, and its members, grow.  He was CEO from 1967 until his retirement in 1993.  During his tenure at HWI/Do it Best, he received numerous industry awards and recognition for the innovative ideas and programs the company developed.   As much as Don loved the company, he also believed in serving others.  Giving back to his community was one of his passions.  He served on the board of United Way, was co-founder of the local Big Brothers Big Sisters agency, served on the National Board of Big Brothers Big Sisters, founder of Study Connection, served on many board throughout our community and was the key player in planning the restoration and raising funds to restore both Salomon Farm Barn and the Salomon Homestead.  He has numerous awards including the Sagamore of the Wabash, Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from both Purdue University and Vincennes University, Journal Gazette Citizen of the Year, Pathfinders Award from Youthlinks Indiana, Junior Achievement Hall of Fame, American Red Cross Humanitarian of the Year, and in 2013 was presented by then Governor Pence the highest honor in the state of Indiana, the Sachem Award.  Don served the company and community with a thankful heart. 

What Don was most proud of was his loving 70-year marriage to wife Virginia.  Together they had four wonderful children, Rebecca (Albert) Jacquay, Donna (Mickey) Myer, Richard (Andrea) Wolf, and Lisa (Bruce) Miller.  They have thirteen grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren.  He is preceded in death by his parents, Ellis & Bessie Wolf, brother George Wolf and sister-in-law Wilma Wolf, sister Maxine Van Horn and brother-in-law Bill VanHorn, and sister-in-law Katie Wolf.  

There will be a Celebration of Don’s Life on Saturday, September 21, 2019 at 11:00 AM at Trinity English Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne. Burial will be private at Concordia Cemetery Gardens in Fort Wayne. Memorial donations may be made to Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Northeast Indiana. 

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