Person:Gertrude McNamara (1)

"Dedicate Playground Equipment to Memory of Gertrude Wolfe" A ceremony dedicating new playground equipment in the Clifton Village Park was held Wednesday afternoon, July 19th. The equipment was dedicated to the memory of the late Gertrude Wolfe, a teacher for 29 years in the first grade in Clifton. Three members of the Clifton Woman's Club took part in the presentation. "Today we have met to fulfill a request of a dear friend. Gertrude Wolfe had asked, while she was so ill, that memorials to her be made to the children of Clifton. She had suggested a piece of playground equipment be placed in the CLifton Village Park. We have fulfilled that request.""Gert loved children and had a special rapport with them,"continued Mrs. Berry. "She touched many young lives." Mrs. Glenn Heriot then read a list of things that Robert Filghum mentions in his recent book, "All I Really Need To Know, I Learned in Kindergarte". Again quoting Mrs. Berry, "Gert's family of grown-up children are a tribute to her philosophy. Louise has her mother's adventurous spirit, as shown in her trek with the PEace Corps into Africa. Her newest undertaking is little Lydia, her newly-adopted daughter, Helen follows closely in her mother's footsteps - a two-career woman - her family and her profession. Her two sons gave much pleasure to 'Grandma and Grandpa Wolfe'. Mary Jane, whose indominatable spirit has taken her to foreign countries as a representative in Special Olympics, is also involved with a national health group and has held officies in it." "Gert's only son, Bill, has a lovely family. He is a successful business man who, last month, visited Belgium as a representative for his company." "Gert was an enthusiastic member of the Clifton Woman's Club," she continued. "She served two years as president while her health was failing. The club gladly accepted the task of handling the money for her memorial when asked to do so by her family.. The villiage officers graciously accepted the gift and took on the job of placing it in the park." "We haven't mentioned her husband, Henry ("Heinie"), but he is a very special person." "Heinie" then expressed his appreciation to the Woman's Club for making this dedication possible. He thanked the mayor and the Villiage Board, and especially Jim Schoon and his crew, who assembled and erected the equipment. He thanked all those who donated to the memorial and concluded, "I'm sure Gertrude's memoryt will live on." Mrs. James Holtman concluded the ceremony by asking a blessing on this memorial. July 19, 1989

(Picture included - Wolfe Family Attends Dedication Ceremony- Members of the Wolfe family attended a ceremony dedicating playground equipment to the memory of Mrs. Gertrude Wolfe, July 19th. Pictured from left, are Mr. and Mrs. August Wolfe, brother and sister-in-law of Henry Wolfe; Henry and Gertrude's daughter, Helen Heppe, and her son, Brian; Henry Wolfe; and his sisters, Mildred Goldtrap and Irene Foreman.

"Former Clifton Central teacher, Gertrude Wolfe" Clifton - Gertrude M Wolfe, 68, of Clifton died at 6:40 p.m. on Thursday (August 18, 1988) at St. Mary's Hospital in Kankakee. Visitation will be from 2-8 pm on Sunday at the Knapp Funeral Home in Clifton with the rosary recited at 6pm. A funeral mass will be at 11 am on Monday at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Clifton. The Reverand John Novak will officiate. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Clifton. Memorials may be made to the Clifton Women's Club Playground Fund. Mrs. Wolfe was born on Jan 13, 1920 in Beaverville to James and Laura Pilon McNamara. She married Henry Wolfe on June 30, 1945 in Beaverville. He survives. Also surviving are three daughters, Louise Wolfe of Oakland, Calif., Mrs. Helen Heppe of Bourbonnais, Mary Jane Wolfe of Elmwood Park; one son, William of Geneva; six grandchildren; three sisters, Isabelle Peters of San Diego, Calif., Bernice Lindholm of Munster, Ind., Yvonne Soucie of Kankakee; two brothers, Francis Benoit of Munster, Ind. She was preceded iin death by her parents, five brothers and two sisters. Mrs. Wolfe had been a teacher for 29 years in teh Central Community Unit #4 School District. She graduated from the College of St. Francis in Joliet, was a member of St. Peter's Catholic Church, CCW and Clifton Women's Club.

Gertrude Wolfe Clifton - A funeral mass for Gertrude M Wolfe, 68, of Clifton, was celebrated at 11 am Monday at St. Peter Catholic Church by the Rev. John Novak. Mrs. Wolfe died Thursday (Aug. 18, 1988) at St. Mary's Hospital in Kankakee. Burial was in Evergreen Cemetery in Clifton. Pallbearers were Ted Trost, Ray Berg, Dale Berry, Beaucie Collette, George Witt and Roger Barwegen. (8-22-88)