R. E. Wolfe

Born August 20, 1921 in Pleasant Hill, Missouri, R. E. was the son of Rolla and Goldie Wolfe. The youngest of six children, R. E. enjoyed the doting affection of his brother, Jesse, and four older sisters, Mary, Roletta, Mildred and Anna, who would piggy back “brother” across streams on their way to school. Later in life he would return the favor a hundred fold by calling each sister several times a week to ensure that their needs were met and went out of his way to provide for them throughout their lives.

As a farming family, the Wolfe children were taught the value of hard work from a young age. Often waking in the early hours of the morning to milk the cows, R. E. recalled running barefooted across frozen fields in the pre-dawn darkness to the dairy barn, anxious to be warmed by the body heat rising from the cows. This well-honed work ethic stayed with him throughout his life; whether laboring on the farm, minding the family's general store or hustling as a car hop at the former Sni-A-Bar Gardens entertainment venue as a young man.

Shrewd of mind and strong of heart, R. E. relied upon his faith and stubborn determination to carry him through his service in WWII, originally enlisting with the 110th Combat Engineer Battalion. As part of the 35th Infantry Division, R. E. landed on Omaha Beach D-Day plus 6. Immediately engaging in combat, the 35th battled German units in the Normandy hedgerows, fighting off 12 German counterattacks during their march to St. Lo. Soon after, R. E. “volunteered” to join the 2nd Ranger Battalion after the elite fighting force suffered devastating casualties during the Normandy invasion.

After receiving an honorable discharge from the army, R. E. spent a few years in New York before settling back home in Missouri where he founded Tri-City Construction Company in 1952. It was during the early years of Tri-City that R. E. met the love of his life while working an asphalt job in Joplin, Missouri. He and his “Norma Lee” were married March 7, 1957 and went on to share nearly 57 years of love and devotion. Through the years they worked side-by-side in business and family, striving to instill their values of faith, integrity and tenacity in their four children Eddie, Dorothy, Alan and Deborah. These same values live on in their grandchildren and great-grandchildren today.

Over the next several decades, R.E. grew Tri-City into one of the largest heavy construction companies in the Midwest, working in the areas of highway and bridge construction; street, runway and sidewalk construction, along with public and private utility construction, railroad construction, and concrete and asphalt paving. Tri-City left a significant mark on the Kansas City infrastructure contributing to the development of many of the cities roadways. Benchmark projects include the construction of Blue Ridge Boulevard, the streets of the Ruskin Heights housing division, the construction of I-470, 71 Hwy, and the Wornall Bridge located on the Country Club Plaza.

A true renaissance man, R. E. used his visionary talents to expand into a wide range of diverse businesses that included owning and operating a number of sanitary landfills throughout United States. Under his leadership, his affiliated companies diversified into hazardous waste removal, industrial maintenance and repair, and sand and gravel production, and automotive aftermarket products. Never one to shy away from a challenge, he continued seeking out new business opportunities through the remainder of his life.

Though business seemed to be constantly at the forefront of his mind, the true hub of R.E.'s existence was his family and above all - his faith in the Lord. He devoutly joined his son, Alan, for 8:00 a.m. services at Calvary Lutheran Church every Sunday. He spent innumerable hours immersed in prayer and sharing his faith with friends and loved ones. In his final days, he brought family members together several times a day to pray the Lord's Prayer.

R. E. Wolfe was a man of tremendous vitality, charisma, and intellect who left his loved ones with many gifts, the most important of which were dedication to family and faith in God's ability to carry us through the best and the worst of times. In the words of a close family friend, “Quite frankly, he is one of the finest men I have come to know. Just to mention a few, R. E. Wolfe epitomizes the words Father, Parent and Patriarch. He is the very definition of what I think of when I hear the word 'Great American.' Like few I have known, he is without question, one of the Greatest of the Greatest Generation.”

R. E. is preceded in death by his parents. Rolla and Goldie Wolfe, his son, Edmund Wolfe; his daughter Dorothy Burkholder; as well as, parents and his brother and four sisters. R. E. is survived by his beloved wife, Norma; his son Alan and daughter Deborah; 14 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and numerous loved ones.

Visitation will be held 6 – 8 p.m., Monday, February 9, 2015 at Mount Moriah and Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Rd; KCMO, (816) 942-2004. A memorial service will be held 11 a.m., Tuesday, February 10, 2015 at Calvary Lutheran Church, 7500 Oak Street; KCMO. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care and Calvary Lutheran Church.