Kenneth Gerald Wolf

Obituary Lt. Col. (Ret.) Kenneth Gerald Wolf Lt. Col. (Ret.) Kenneth Gerald Wolf, 92, of Lakewood, Washington, passed away peacefully on December 21, 2013. He was born on his family's farm in Byron Township, Michigan. As a young boy, he would see planes flying over the farm and decided that he wanted to become a pilot. He was home from college when news about the attack on Pearl Harbor came through on the radio. He immediately enlisted in the Air Force, received training on the B-29 bomber, and flew 35 missions in the Pacific theater. In 1951, he married Helen Demers, a nurse. Over the next decade, Ken, Helen and their growing family put down temporary stakes in South Dakota and Hawaii before settling permanently in Lakewood. Ken retired from the Air Force in 1972 and graduated from Washington State University in 1974 with a Masters Degree in Education. Ken was an active member of Master Gardeners and Serra of Tacoma. A man of great faith, Ken played a leadership role in the parish of St. Francis Cabrini. Ken is survived by his wife, Helen; and eight beloved children, Janice Kampbell (Rob), Susan Carbone (Dan), Mary Tharp (Dan), Ann Dodge (Bill), Margo Wolf (Len Shields), Gerald Wolf (Anne), Lisa Denham, and Kevin Wolf. He will also be deeply missed by 18 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Ken will be remembered for his green thumb, his wheelbarrow rides, his lively readings of the funny paper, his unwavering commitment to God and country, and, most of all, the love he bestowed upon his family. A Rosary will be recited at St. Frances Cabrini on December 26, 7:00 pm. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Frances Cabrini on December 27, 11:00am. Interment at Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that well-wishers make a donation to the St. Francis Cabrini Endowment Fund. As Ken liked to say, here's to another good day. Please leave online condolences at www.gaffneycares.com. Arrangements by Gaffney Funeral Home, 253-572-6003.