David Wolf

The Rev. David Wolf

RICHARDTON - The Rev. David Wolf, OSB, 81, died July 2, 2008, in the Swing Bed Unit of St. Joseph's Hospital, Dickinson. Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:30 a.m. MDT Saturday, July 5, at Assumption Abbey Church, Richardton. Interment will be in Abbey Cemetery, Richardton.

A vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. MDT Friday at Assumption Abbey Church.

The Rev. David (Joseph) Wolf was born in Hague on Feb. 14, 1927, to Peter and Eva (Mueller) Wolf. He was born into a family of five boys and eight girls. He received his elementary education at Hague. After that, he came to Assumption Abbey for high school and junior college. He entered the novitiate in 1945 and made vows on July 11, 1946. After completing his seminary studies, he was ordained to the priesthood on May 24, 1952.

After his ordination the Rev. David spent his time working at the Abbey schools. From 1953 to 1955, he attended DePaul University in Chicago and obtained a bachelor of science degree in physics in February 1956. Upon returning to the Abbey, he was given the responsibility of being in charge of the power house and farm. In August 1956, he was put in charge of the music department of the Abbey schools. During the summer of 1958 and again in 1963, he studied math at Stanford. In 1960, he was appointed registrar of the Abbey High School. In July 1964, he assumed duties as registrar of Assumption College. He received a grant to study physics at Texas A&M and did so during the summers of 1965 through 1968. On Aug. 25, 1968, he was appointed Prior of Assumption Abbey. In 1971, he joined the faculty of the University of Mary, teaching math and science. It was on Aug. 15, 1980, that he was asked to change direction and become business manager of Assumption Abbey. He held this position until Dec. 30, 2003, but stayed on as assistant business manager. From Sept. 1, 1980 to Sept. 13, 1996, he served as Subprior.

In recent years, the Rev. David began to suffer from kidney failure. In June of this year, he started dialysis. He then suffered a fall and cracked a bone in his neck. While recovering from that other complications set in. He was being treated in the Swing Bed Unit in Dickinson when, during the night, he stopped breathing and could not be revived.

The Rev. David is survived by one brother, Theodulus Wolf, Greenfield, Wis.; two sisters, Leocadia Zacher, Aberdeen, S.D., and Sister Anita Wolf, Merrill, Wis.; and a sister-in-law, Emma Wolf, Linton.

He was preceded in death by three brothers and six sisters.

Sign the online guest book, and share condolences at www.spangelofuneralhome.com. (Spangelo Funeral Home, Hebron)