Former vice president of the Ohio Farmers Union and dairy activist Bryan K. Wolfe of Ashtabula has died in a farming accident at the age of 55.
Roger Wise, OFU president, said earlier this week, “As a grassroots activist, you could not be more committed to your cause than Bryan. He educated the community, OFU, legislators and other farmers for years about the problems in the dairy industry. He focused on the family farmer and small producers and fought for a fair deal for family farmers in a world which too often ignores them. He will be missed.”
Wolfe’s obituary from the Ashtabula Star-Beacon follows:
ROME — Bryan K. Wolfe, age 55, of Rome, Ohio, died Tuesday, August 7, 2012.
He was born March 12, 1957, in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of Fred and Shirley (Heffner) Wolfe. He was married to H. Diana (Young) Wolfe on Sept. 12, 1981.
Bryan was a Dairy Farmer all his life and owned and operated Maple Lane Farms in Rome, Ohio since 1980 with his wife. His passion for farming went well beyond the boundaries of his home farm and was an avid farming activist, who served with many organizations to be a voice for the family farms over his lifetime.
Among his involvement in such organizations include: Vice President of the Ohio Farmers Union for four years. President of the Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula County Farmers Union for 12 years. He was a member of the National Family Farm Coalition for 10 years and served on the Executive Committee, Dairy Sub Committee, and Chaired the Credit Committee.
He also spent 10 years with the Family Farm Defenders. Bryan’s love for dairy farming started with his first 4-H project, which he always said got out of hand. He was a 1975 graduate of Grand Valley High School.
He is survived by his wife, H. Diana Wolfe; his parents, Fred and Shirley Wolfe, of Hartsgrove, Ohio; brother, Kevin D. Wolfe, of Hartsgrove, Ohio; sisters, Laurie A. Wolfe of Hartsgrove, Ohio and Heidi E. Sundberg of Cherry Valley, Ohio; as well as numerous nieces and nephews who loved him and worked with him on the farm over the years.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Clarence and Rozella (Day) Wolfe and Thomas and Edna (Bosold) Heffner.
A Funeral Service will be held 11 a.m., Monday, August 13th, at PAINE-GUERRIERO FUNERAL HOME, 140 E. Main St., Orwell, Ohio, with the Rev. Robert Leonard officiating.
Visitation will take place from 3 to 7 p.m., Sunday, August 12th, at the Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to the family in care of Diana Wolfe at the funeral home.
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