• Born: January 24, 1881 in Milford
• Died: July 8, 1961 in Allentown (buried at St. Paul’s Lutheran)
• Parents: William W Wolf & Elizabeth Fox
• Spouse: Clara Matilda Reimert
  • Born: December 8, 1884
  • Died: May 7, 1937 (buried at St. Paul’s Lutheran)
  • Parents: Lewis Reimert & Lilly Shollenberger
• Married: September 20, 1902 at St. Paul’s Lutheran
• Children:  Sadie, Robert, Herbert, Howard, Jennie, Florence, Milton, Edwin, Albert, Lester, Russell, Frances, Walter, Beatrice, May, Lewis, Fern

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William F was just two years old when at least four of his siblings died of diphtheria. Whether or not William also suffered from the disease we will never know, but he was one of only five of William Sr. and Elizabeth’s children who survived. 

William married Clara Matilda Reimert on September 20, 1902 at St. Paul’s Lutheran in Red Hill.  Clara was born on December 8, 1884, the daughter of Lewis Reimert & Lilly Shollenberger. William and Clara had seventeen children that are known of.

What little we know of William’s life indicates that he was a hard-working man. Like many youths of the time, his education reached only the 7th grade, and he likely entered employment after that.  Censuses and his WW1 draft card indicate that he worked in a cigar factory while also farming his own land. According to his obituary, he operated a dairy farm in the town of Finland, near Pennsburg.

While raising her children, Clara also worked as a housekeeper for 32 years, until June of 1935. She died at the age of 52 of a cerebral hemorrhage / arterio-sclerosis on May 7, 1937.

William’s WW2 draft card describes the 61-year-old widower as being 5’8”, 160 lb, with brown eyes, grey hair, and a dark brown complexion. This is likely why the card lists his race as “negro.”

William died on July 8, 1961 at Allentown hospital due to gastrointestinal bleeding caused by “carcinoma of the large bowel.”

William and Clara are both buried at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Red Hill. 

William’s Obituary:

William F. Wolf died at age 80 in the Allentown Hospital after an illness.

He was the son of the late William and Elizabeth (Fox) Wolf. William F. was married to Clara (Reimert) Wolf and together they had 17 children, Robert, Herbert, Russell, Walter, Howard, Milton, Edwin, Lewis, Sadie, wife of Frank Heimbach, Florence, wife of Frank Reiman, Beatrice, wife of Joseph Oppelt, Frances, wife of Francis Moser, and Fern, wife of Holmes Stauffer. He was predeceased by 4 children.

At the time of his death, he had 44 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.

William operated a dairy farm in Finland (near Pennsburg), PA.

Services were held at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Red Hill, with the Rev. Walter E Schaeffer, Pastor officiating. Funeral services were arranged by the Benner Funeral Home 612 Main Street in Red Hill, PA.

Children of William F and Clara

Sadie is discussed here. 

Robert was born on March 13, 1903. He married Margaret Neas and owned Wolf’s Vineyard in Orefield for 30 years, retiring in 1969. He died on August 30, 1988 and is buried at St. Paul’s in Red Hill.  Robert and Margaret had three children: Robert, whose life events are discussed on his own page here, Arlene (born 1930), and Kermit (born August 7, 1934, died of pneumonia on August 14, buried at St. Paul’s).

Herbert was born on April 6, 1905. He married STella Moll (1910-1990).  Their children were named Dorothy, Richard, and Linford. Additionally, one child was stillborn in November, 1935.  Herbert died in June, 1980. He and Stella are both buried at St. Pau’s.

Howard was born on October 26, 1906.  He married Laura Victoria Stephens (1906-1984) in 1925.  They had a daughter named Erma Clara. Howard died on December 14, 1976.  He and Laura are both buried at St. Pau’s.

 Jennie  was born on March 31, 1909. She married Samuel Ludwig Heinz (1893-1956), who may have been born in Germany, at age sixteen or seventeen. According to Jennie’s death certificate, she died of “convulsions.” According to information passed through the family, however, she died of “confinement, aka childbirth” at the Half Moon Hotel in Finland, Bucks County.  The day she died, November 4, 1926, her child (known as “Baby Wolf” in family records) was both born and also died. The fact that she gave birth at a hotel and her young age makes one wonder if she and Samuel were in fact married, or if their child was born out of wedlock. However, she is buried at St. Paul’s Church under the name “Jennie Heintz” with Samuel and others in the Heintz family

Florence was born on October 20, 1910. She married Frank Reihman Jr. on December 24, 1932 at the St Paul’s Parsonage. She died on March 11, 1982 and is buried at Frieden’s Union Cemetery in Sumneytown, PA. 

Milton was born on June 6, 1912. He married Fern Eschbach (1919-2015), a member of Palm Schwenkfelder Church who was a pianist and organist (interestingly, Fern’s first husband was a welder who died of a fractured skull & internal injuries as he result of the collision of a car and train at a crossing).  Milton served in the Army during WW2, from February 4, 1943 – December 28, 1945. His veteran documents state: BTRY A 519 AAA GN BN. Milton died on July 19, 1995. He and Fern are buried at Palm Schwenkfelder Church.

Edwin was born on May 20, 1914. He married Mary Gehman (1927-1999). He died on May 12, 1986 and is buried at St. Paul’s.

Albert was born on September 28, 1915. He died on March 22, 1917 of whooping cough.  At the time of his death, seven of his siblings were also suffering from the disease.  Albert’s funeral was presided over by Rev. O.F. Waage and he was buried at St. Paul’s in Red Hill. His obituary lists his name as Amos A.P. Wolf, but his tombstone says Albert.

Lester was born on August 23, 1917 and died six days later on August 29. Cause of death is unknown. He was buried at St. Paul’s.

Russell was born on August 14, 1918.  He married Catherine Delong (~1923 – 1983). He died on December 29, 1981 and is buried at St. Paul’s. 

Frances was born on September 22, 1920. She married Francis Moser.  She died on June 9, 2005 and is buried at St. Paul’s.

Walter was born on July 31, 1922.  He married Carrie E Wonsidler. Walter was a mechanic for CJ Wonsidler Bros, and after his retirement worked at the Perkiomenville Auction.  Ge died on July 16, 2014 and is buried at St. Paul’s.

Beatrice was born on January 10, 1924. She married Joseph John Opplt (1919-2000). Their children are Joseph, David, and Joyce (whose daughter, Amy, compiled a great deal of information on the Wolf family).

May was born on December 10, 1925 and died six days later on December 16. She was baptized at home on December 14 by Pastor Howard Krauss.

Lewis was born on January 6, 1927. He spent most of his adult life in Vermont.  He married Vera Mae Croteau, and divorced in 1989. Lewis served in the Army in WW2, from May 8, 1945 – November 11, 1946. He died on March 28, 1994 at his home in Vermont and is buried nearly at the Eaton Cemetery in Marshfield, VT.

Fern was born at home on December 27, 1928. At the time she was born, her eldest sister, Sadie, was 26 years old and already a mother herself.  She married Holmes Stauffer (1924-2009). They lived in Delaware for many years before moving back to the Pennsburg area. She died on September 20, 2008.

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Gravestone Photos

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