Fr. Joseph Wolf, OFM. Cap.

Joseph Robert Wolf was born on May 29, 1934, in Appleton, Wisconsin, to Leon J. Wolf and Adele (Corcoran) Wolf. He was the youngest of eight children and was lovingly raised alongside his siblings: Mary, John, Tom, RoseAnne, Jimmy, Helen, and Rita.

Joseph’s early experiences with the Boy Scouts of America instilled a deep desire to help others. This led to his lifelong vocation, not as a professional scout but as a Capuchin friar. His journey began in his formative years at St. Joseph Elementary School in Appleton, under the guidance of the Notre Dame sisters, and continued at St. Lawrence Seminary High School in Mt. Calvary, Wisconsin. Guided by the Capuchin Spirit, Joseph entered the novitiate. “After reading a brochure on religious life, I chose to become a Capuchin. Mom and Dad proudly drove me to Detroit to begin my novitiate,” he reflected.

Joseph entered the novitiate at St. Bonaventure Monastery in Detroit, taking the religious name of Norbert. He made his first profession in 1956 and continued his Capuchin formation at St. Felix Friary in Huntington, Indiana, before moving to St. Mary Friary in Crown Point, Indiana, in 1959. His studies continued at St. Anthony Friary in Marathon, Wisconsin.

On May 16, 1964, Joseph was ordained by Bishop John Patrick Treacy of LaCrosse. After ordination, he began his pastoral year at St. Francis Friary in Milwaukee, where he deepened his spiritual practice and ministerial skills.

In 1965, Joseph’s life took a significant turn when he was sent as a missionary to the Bluefields Mission in Nicaragua, Central America. Though initially surprised by the assignment, given his struggles with back pain, Joseph embraced the challenge. He quickly learned Spanish and Miskito to serve the people better, discovering that their deep faith and religiosity inspired him to grow in his own spiritual life. Over the next forty years, Joseph’s missionary work took him across Nicaragua to places such as Puerto Cabezas, Siuna, Tipitapa, Rosita, Waspam, and Rama. He dedicated much of his time to forming lay-leaders, working with pastoral teams, serving as a hospital chaplain for four years, and leading mission trips deep into rural areas—sometimes lasting up to twenty days.

In 1974, Joseph pursued further studies in pastoral ministry in Medellin, Colombia. In 1977, he received a Master’s degree in Spanish Literature and Grammar from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. In 1978, he returned to Waspam, Nicaragua, to continue missionary work.

 In January 1982, amid growing political tensions in Nicaragua, Joseph, along with three Sisters of St. Agnes, were expelled by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. During this period, clergy and religious workers faced heavy resistance if perceived as opposing the government's policies. Joseph endured numerous interrogations and threats from the Sandinista regime. Despite this, in 1988, he returned to Nicaragua. While in Managua, he survived an attack where he was shot in the thigh. Although he lost a lot of blood, Joseph recounted feeling God close by. He remained in Nicaragua until 2005, serving the people with great faith and dedication.

After returning to the United States, Joseph began ministry as a chaplain at St. Francis Home in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

Joseph is survived by his sister, Helen. He is preceded in death by his parents, Leon J. Wolf and Adele (Corcoran) Wolf, his siblings, Mary, John, Tom, RoseAnne, Jimmy, and Rita, and his Capuchin brothers, with whom he shared a life of prayer and ministry for seven decades.

Funeral Liturgy for Fr. Joseph will be held at 11:30 AM on Friday, October 25, 2024, at St. Joseph Church, located at 410 W. Lawrence Street in Appleton. Visitation will begin at the church at 10:00 AM and continue until the time of the liturgy. Interment will follow in the Friars’ section of St. Joseph Cemetery in Appleton at 2:00 PM. 

Liturgy will be live-streamed via the parish website:   LIVE STREAM HERE