Ronald Wolfe

1948 - 2025

Ronald W. "Ron" Wolfe of Springfield Corners/Waunakee - passionate advocate for the environment and social justice; dedicated wood researcher; avid world traveler; skilled builder and craftsman; and lover of nature passed away unexpectedly September 13, 2025, at age 77.

Ron was born March 14, 1948, in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania to Arthur L. and F. Irene (Baer) Wolfe, who predeceased him. After his parents divorced, Ron moved with his mother and sisters to Allentown Pennsylvania, graduating from high school in 1966. He earned a Bachelors in Wood Science Technology from Penn State, followed by a Masters from Colorado State. He spent college summers fighting fires in California for the U.S. Forest Service. After a few unsatisfying years working in the corporate world, he began his career as a wood researcher at the (U. S.) Forest Products Laboratory in Madison in 1974. He worked there until his early retirement in 2006 to pursue his many interests, volunteering in areas such as passenger rail advocacy and building the Ice Age Trail System.

It was at the lab where Ron met his wife Barbara J. "Barb" Pulvermacher. They married in 1978 and spent 45 devoted years together until her death in 2023. In the early 80's they built their dream home on seven heavily wooded acres northwest of Madison. Ron was truly a man of the woods; while he would clear paths through the undergrowth, the house sat nestled within an otherwise dense, untouched forest-no grassy lawn or paved driveway.

Ron was a self-made, self-reliant jack of all trades. If he did not know how to build or fix something, he would figure it out and willingly share the fruits of his labor with anyone in need.

He and Barb were an amazing couple. They loved to dance, spend time with friends and travel together all over the world, sometimes under the most primitive of circumstances. They both loved rail travel and rode together on almost every Amtrak route in addition to railways on most other continents.

Ron will also be remembered fondly as an amazing uncle, always willing to build a treehouse, hang up a swing, or go on an adventure.

A fiery and dedicated soul, Ron was a tireless advocate for environmental protection and social justice, devoting much of his time to these causes. Unless you had three hours to spare you learned to tread lightly over any of those topics. Ron will be remembered as a good, kind, generous man.

Ron is survived by his sisters Bonnie (Terry) Shetler of Fort Collins, Colorado and Linda (John) Priest of Noblesville, Indiana; and Barb's twin sister Beverly (McAllister) Wilcox and their daughter, Barbara, of Libertyville, Illinois. He will be greatly missed by them as well as his many friends and associates.

A Celebration of Ron's Life will take place Tuesday, December 2, 2025 from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. at Whippoorwill/Hawks Nest Inn, 7914 State Road 19, Dane, WI.