Edwin Dale Wolfgram

1932 - 2023

Wolfgram, Edwin Dale

Born November 11, 1932 to William Wolfgram and Emma Marie Wolfgram (nee Reinhardt). Died September 25, 2023 from complications of dementia. Predeceased by his wife, Dorothea Mathilda Wolfgram (nee Limberg), his sister Florine Wolfgram, brother Floyd Wolfgram, and survived by his sister Loretta Treptow, brother Howard Wolfgram, three children, Kurt (Robin), Dorothea Bernesjo (Mats), and Eric (Laila) and five grandchildren, Christian, Jerod, Elizabeth, Meera n/k/a Theo, and Kiran. The youngest of five children in a Depression-era Iowa farm family in constant fear of losing their land, hard work and frugality became his mantras. For grades one through eight he attended a 12-student, one teacher, one room school. The recovery of farm prices during WWII enabled his family to afford tuition at Wartburg College and University of Iowa medical school. He was thrilled to study instead of attending livestock on dark, subzero mornings. After residency in Miami, Florida, sporting a buzz cut and a powder blue MG, he trained in psychiatry at Washington University School of Medicine. At age 30, he met Dorothea Marie Limberg of Bellerive Acres, a newspaperwoman in Bremerton, Washington at the time. Three dates in three days cemented a love to last the rest of both their lives. Their first date, to the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, led to some 1,700 symphonies together over 57 years. He supported Dorothea's career, including her groundbreaking pursuit of equal pay for equal or better (let's be honest) work. Simultaneously a generous, loving father and a firm teacher of his Depression-era lessons, he emphasized hard work above all else. He practiced psychiatry until age 87 in clinical practice, at Barnes Hospital, Jewish Hospital, Lutheran Hospital, as a medical expert witness, and the last 7 years at the Metropolitan St. Louis Psychiatric Center. He was Phi Beta Kappa and a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. A believer in the Central West End even during its less tony years, he lived on Hortense Pl. and worked on West Pine Blvd. At age 47, fearing the diseases of inactivity, he ran: first around the block, then around the park, then marathons (Boston, several times) and ultimately the Ironman World Championship triathlon (2.4 mi. swim, 112 mi. bike, 26.2 mi. run), which he qualified for and completed 10 times, winning his age group at 70, a fourth-place age-group finish at age 76 after open-heart surgery, and three other top-5 age-group finishes. He authored with Dorothea "It's Never Too Late" a guide for mid- and late-life fitness. He inspired generations of St. Louis runners and triathletes whose testimonials are his legacy. He will forever be known as Iron Ed Wolfgram. Services will be held at 10:00 a.m on. October 27, 2023 at Messiah Lutheran Church, 2846 Grand Blvd. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, slso.org.