Senator Melvin Harlan Wolf View All Years

MELVIN H. WOLF

Melvin H. Wolf was born on December 4, 1923, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Michael and Sara Wolf. He passed away on December 2, 2007, at the age of 83. He is survived by his wife Lois and his daughter Marna Orren, and her spouse David, and his daughter Caryn.

Wolf attended the Des Moines public schools and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1941. He attended the New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, New Mexico, from 1941-1942. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served in the China-Burma-India theatre during World War II. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster.

Wolf earned his undergraduate degree in liberal arts from the University of Iowa in 1948. He then completed his law degree from the College of Law, University of Iowa, in 1949. He met his future wife, Lois Hankin, in Iowa City and was married while he was an Iowa law student. They moved to Waterloo where he engaged in the general practice of law for fifty years. He was a member of local and state bar associations.

For much of his life, Wolf was active in state Democratic politics. He was elected to the Iowa Senate in 1958 and served one term. He also ran for lieutenant governor. Governor Harold Hughes appointed him to the State Board of Regents, where he served for many years governing Iowa’s public universities and special schools. He served as president of the local Civil Liberties Union. He was a former chairman of the Black Hawk County Mental Health Center and served as a mental health commitment referee prior to his retirement. He was a member of the Sons of Jacob Synagogue. He is remembered as a generous supporter of all good causes.

Melvin Wolf was a Black Hawk County Democrat. He served in the Iowa Senate from 1959–1962, and served as Ranking Member of the Senate Insurance Committee, during the 58th and 59th General Assemblies.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE EIGHTY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF IOWA: That in the passing of the Honorable Melvin Wolf, the State has lost an honored citizen and faithful and useful public servant, and that the Senate by this resolution expresses its appreciation of his service to the State and tenders its sympathy and kindest regards to the members of his family.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the Journal of the Senate and that the Secretary of the Senate be instructed to forward an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.

Jeff Danielson

William A. Dotzler, Jr.

Craig Johnson

Committee