Cold Spring
July 19, 1937 – August 28, 2026
A Celebration of Life for Joanne P. Wolf, age 89, who died of complications after a stroke, will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, September 4, 2026, at St. John’s Abbey/University Church in Collegeville; visitation begins at 12:30 p.m. prior to services at the church; inurnment will follow at St. John the Baptist Parish Cemetery.
Joanne was born in Melrose, MN to Frank and Margaret Niehoff. She married James “Jim” Wolf on Saturday, June 6, 1959, in New Munich. They had four children and made their home in St. Michael-Albertville and later Cold Spring.
Everyone (except her) thought she was going to live forever. She was a woman filled with love, generosity, kindness, encouragement, strength, and contentment in all circumstances. Her strong Catholic faith was unwavering; her prayers for her family and friends were powerful and ever-present.
Time with her kids, grandkids, and great grandkids brought her undeniable joy. She savored the memories of her late husband, Jim. She looked forward to hosting Christmas Eve for her family for over 50 years. The refrigerator was always stocked, and her door was always open for short visits or long stays with her kids and grandkids, sisters, brothers, in-laws and friends. Joanne traveled to many beautiful places, served on many committees and boards, and volunteered in all kinds of ways…but it was never the event that made it special for her, it was the people. She taught us that time is precious and that actively engaging in relationships with others (and serving them fresh baked caramel rolls) is the key to living a good, long life.
She enjoyed lazy mornings with her coffee while reading the St. Cloud Times and collecting fake money from a fake online gambling game. She’s a trillionaire! She loved reading, history, baking, cooking, gardening, canning, crocheting, crossword puzzles, needlework, sewing, painting, and playing cards, especially pinochle with all her friends at the Rocori Senior Center.
She concentrated on raising good kids who loved God, and being a good wife, friend and neighbor. Over the years she worked as a legal secretary, painter/stainer, cleaner, and Library Para-Professional. Everything she did, she did with humble excellence. She was just wonderful and will be so very missed.
Joanne is survived by her children, Carla Wolf, Terri (Rich) Lumley, Kevin (Linda) Wolf, and Sara (Rick) Thompson; grandchildren, Clint (Lindsey), Ryan (Tracy), Keith (Amanda), Jake (Sarah) Lumley, Angie Wolf, and Kyle Thompson; great grandchildren, Anah, Eden, Ivy, Claudia, James, and Lilly; in-laws, Dick Laing and Becky Niehoff.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Margaret Niehoff; husband, Jim Wolf; siblings Marilyn Laing, Janet (Don) Galloway, Tom Niehoff, and Gary Niehoff.
Arrangements are with Wenner Funeral Home, Cold Spring.
