Joseph Vincent Wolfe, 63, of Des Moines, New Mexico, went home to God’s village on December 1, 2015, fifteen months after being diagnosed with esophageal cancer. He was surrounded by his wife and children when he peacefully passed on at Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, CA.
Friends and family are welcome at a visitation at Rafferty Funeral Home, 2111 1st A Moline on Friday, December 11, 2015 from 4 to 7, and to the funeral Mass at St. Pius X Church, 2502 29th Avenue, Rock Island, IL, on Saturday, December 12, 2015 at 10 am. Fr. Jeremy Freehill will officiate. Following the service, Joseph’s ashes will be buried next to his mother and father at Moline Memorial Park, 5001 34th Avenue, Moline, IL. There will then be a gathering of those whose lives he touched at the TPC at Deere Run Clubhouse.
Memorials may be made to the Cancer Research Institute, or to the Mandala Center, PO Box 158, Des Moines, NM 88418.
Joseph was born in Davenport, Iowa, the son of Vincent and Catherine (Jacquin) Wolfe on April 6, 1952. He graduated from Moline High School and Loras College in Dubuque, where he was an All-American tennis player. He went on to earn his law degree from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.
After graduation Joseph moved to Washington, DC in 1977 to work for the House Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill. He reached the position of Deputy Chief Counsel, and subsequently he worked for the House International Relations Committee, where he was Staff Director.
In 1980, he married Anna Deere Hewitt, and they were married for 35 years. They had 3 children, Brian, Lisa and Catherine.
In 1997, Joseph and his family (the Wolfe family) moved to a ranch near Des Moines, New Mexico, where they raised cattle and enjoyed their horses, dogs, cats and sheep. He helped Anna in her mission to found the Mandala Center, on the slopes of Sierra Grande, where people could come to experience spiritual renewal, health and wholeness workshops, personal growth, and creativity. Joseph took an active role working at the Center for several years, making sure that both guests and staff had the best experience possible.
Joseph was an exceptionally kind and thoughtful person; he listened intently and seemed to always assume positive intentions in others. His family meant the world to him. He played a very active part inhis children’s lives as they were growing up, attending all of their sports, activities, and achievement ceremonies. He was also a wonderful coach, crew and supporter for Anna’s endurance riding races.
In recent years he was a loving and playful grandfather to young AJ (Wolfe), Lisa’s son. Joseph was an accomplished and enthusiastic tennis player, an avid collector of oriental rugs, and he enjoyed following a number of sports teams, as well as keeping current on the financial markets.
Joseph will be greatly missed by his cherished wife, Anna; his beloved children, Brian, Lisa and Catherine, his grandson AJ; his cousins Lisa (John) Philibert and Charles (JoAnne) Jacquin, who were more like sister and brother to him; his Aunt, Joyce Jacquin; his nephews, Jack Philibert, Joseph Philibert, CJ Jacquin, Alexander Beer and Patrick Beer; and his niece Adrianna Beer; as well as by Jason Gallegos, who lived with the family for several years and was like another son to Anna and Joseph.
This memorial provided by:
Rafferty Funeral Home
Moline, IL
