Hubert Wolfe, founder of the Wolfe's Sportsman's Headquarters department stores, avid sportsman, philanthropist and Humanitarian, died Thurs., Dec. 4, 1997, in Salt Lake City, at the age of 98.
He was born Jan. 9, 1899, the son of Elias Wolfe and Etta Lena Katz at their home in Salt Lake City. He was the youngest son and the last survivor of the ten Wolfe children. He married Shirley Mitchell Dec. 25, 1926 at the Covenant House in Salt Lake City. He was preceded in death by his beloved Shirley, who died in 1974, and his son, Elliott, who died Nov. 1996.Mr. Wolfe served during World War I in France, as a sergeant in the US Army. After the war, he opened a small retail store in Pocatello, ID. In the early 20's he joined his brothers in developing the Wolfe Bros. Surplus stores and managed the Ogden Store. Mr. Wolfe eventually bought out his brother's interests in the stores and founded Wolfe's Sportsman's Headquarters at 225 So. State St. in Salt Lake. The store flourished and by the mid thirties, moved to a larger home at 250 So. State. Six more stores were added to the business before it was sold in 1981.
Hubert loved his sporting business, but he loved being a sportsman even more. In his youth, he helped pioneer the sport of skiing in Utah. He was one of the Wasatch Mountain Club, and helped build their cabin in Brighton. He was also one of the first retailers to carry ski equipment in Utah.
Mr. Wolfe was especially fond of fishing, starting on the Jordan River in 1907. In 1922, he rented a model T Ford and drove on dirt roads to fish Yellowstone Park. He was an expert fly fisherman and was able to enjoy the art until he was 96-years-old. With his son, Elliott and the rest of his family, he fished every major river and stream in the West, and took several excursions to Canada and Alaska. His touch and timing after fishing more than 88 years allowed him to regularly out fish the younger members of his family. Mr. Wolfe was also an avid hunter and dog trainer and had several champion English Pointers. He was a member of the New State Duck Club and a Director of the Utah Gun Dog Association.
Golf was another one of Mr. Wolf's great loves. He sported a low handicap (6-8) and was able to shoot his age on more than one occasion. He had three holes in one, and won numerous golf tournaments including the state senior championship. At the age of 95, he still played three or four rounds of golf every week. Mr. Wolfe was a member of Willow Creek Country Club in Salt Lake, as well as the Canyon Country Club in Palm Springs, CA.
Mr. Wolfe shared his good fortune by generously supporting both family members and the Salt Lake community. He contributed to many civic organizations including: The University of Utah, Primary Children's Medical Center, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Utah Symphony, Westminster College, Ballet West, Hogle Zoo, United Jewish Appeal, and the Anti Defamation League. He was a 32 Degree Mason, a Shriner and a member of B'nai B'rith, Temple Kol Ami and the Jewish Community Center.
Mr. Wolfe is survived by his daughter, Kayla Wolfe Grodsky (Gerold), San Francisco; his daughter-in-law, Judy Wolfe, Salt Lake; his grandchildren, Andrea Grodsky Humber (Peter), Bethesda, MD; Jamie Grodsky, Washington D.C.; Michael Wolfe (Kelly) Salt Lake City; Julie Wolfe, Seattle,WA; Amy Wolfe, Salt Lake City; and seven great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at Evan's and Early Mortuary, 574 East 100 South, Salt Lake City, at 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7th. Interment to follow at B'nai Israel Cemetery, 4th Ave.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the Elliott Mitchell Wolfe Memorial Fund, C/O the Salt Lake Jewish Community Bldg. Fund, 2416 East 1700 So. SLC, UT 84108
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