Michael Lowndes Wolfe

1941 - 2025

Michael "Mike" L. Wolfe died on October 31, 2025, from complications following an emergency surgery. Mike was the embodiment of living life to its fullest. His passing makes the world less full for those surviving. Mike was born on January 28, 1941, in Huntington, New York, into a family of Long Island oystermen. He grew up in the small fishing village of Northport, New York.

He was born with an innate curiosity for living things which led him to become a wildlife biologist. He graduated from Northport High School in 1959 and then Cornell University in 1963. As a Fulbright scholar, he completed his doctoral degree at the University of Gottingen in Germany in 1967. While in Germany, he met the love of his life and future wife, Marieluise Kothe, who he married in 1966.

Shortly after his graduation, Mike and Marieluise moved to the states, where Mike conducted a "dream job" post-doctorate program with Purdue University studying wolves on Isle Royale. He was hired by Utah State University in 1970 and retired there as a full Professor in 2011.

Mike helped train many wildlife biologists, land managers, and conservation officers. He was an educator and mentor to hundreds of wildlife and ecology students. His teachings included courses on ecology, habitat management, natural resources policy, predator ecology, wildlife population management, field techniques, and biodiversity.

Mike is an internationally recognized expert in mammalian ecology and widely published researcher in the fields of ungulate ecology, wildlife-habitat relationships, predator-prey interactions, and international wildlife conservation. Mike was very active in his professional society, The Wildlife Society. He served as president of the Utah Chapter, associate editor of the society's journal, and faculty advisor to the USU Student Chapter.

He loved being in the field. Since retiring, Mike volunteered thousands of hours working with the Bridgerland Audubon Society and Bear River Land Conservancy on conservation projects, wildlife counts, field trips, and charity events. He also served as a wildlife expert on numerous conservation issues in Cache Valley, across Utah, and throughout the U.S.

Nearing retirement, Mike found love for a new sport. He was one of the original members of the Cache Valley Stone Society, a local curling club formed in 2002. Mike served as president for several years, competed with CVSS members at bonspiels across the region, and was a stalwart club member and active participant until his death. He exemplified the true spirit of curling, which focuses on building communities and friendships.

Mike was a man of the world and was always enthralled by the sea. He lived his dream when he sailed aboard a tall ship for 3 months from South Africa to Nova Scotia. He loved that the ship had no motor, and that a bath with a single cup of fresh water was a treat. In addition to the U.S., Germany, and his sea voyages, Mike traveled to the USSR, Australia, Chile, Argentina, France, Ireland, England, and Scotland. Mike was a wonderful traveling companion, and his presence would often result in unexpected paths that always ended with lots of laughter and joy. He loved traveling the world with family and friends and always brushed up on local history of the countries and places he visited. Mike was always fascinated by languages and could speak several, including Russian and German.

Mike is survived by his wife Marieluise, his children Karen, Colleen, and Haiko, his sister Martha Glynn, a host of other relatives, and many, many friends. He is preceded in death by his brother Stephen and parents Michael Sr. and Grace.

Mike had a lifelong interest in photography, especially wildlife photography; he enjoyed traveling, playing musical instruments, pontificating, "curmudgeoning", and the occasional wee dram. Mike will be sorely missed, but every day he is in our thoughts. We will smile at the memories of Mike, at his joy of life, and the pleasure he gave us in being around him. Donations in memory of Mike's life and work can be made to the Bear River Land Conservancy at https://www.bearriverlandconservancy.org/donate. Plans for a celebration of life and a memorial curling bonspiel are being made for Spring 2026 and announced at a later date.