We created a GatheringUs memorial to celebrate the life of Don Wolz. Collecting your stories and memories here will offer us great comfort. As we plan virtual and in person gatherings, we will share details here. Thank you for contributing to this lasting memorial.
OBITUARY
Don was a wonderful husband, dad, grandpa, brother, and friend. He will be dearly missed by all whose lives he touched. He was not a man of many words, but what words he chose he made count (either to get his point across, or to bring you a laugh or a smile). Don was known for his funny one-liners and puns and never missed an opportunity to deliver a corny joke with just the right timing.
Please take a moment to share some of your... see more
Don was a wonderful husband, dad, grandpa, brother, and friend. He will be dearly missed by all whose lives he touched. He was not a man of many words, but what words he chose he made count (either to get his point across, or to bring you a laugh or a smile). Don was known for his funny one-liners and puns and never missed an opportunity to deliver a corny joke with just the right timing.
Please take a moment to share some of your favorite memories of Don, as well as any pictures you have, so we can all celebrate his life and help each other's hearts heal.
Don is a dear friend of mine. I can't get myself to say 'was' because I just haven't accepted the fact yet that he passed. I have many, many memories of him, all of them great! He is my friend, but more than that, an older brother type if that makes... moreDon is a dear friend of mine. I can't get myself to say 'was' because I just haven't accepted the fact yet that he passed. I have many, many memories of him, all of them great! He is my friend, but more than that, an older brother type if that makes sense. I shot pool with Don since the late 80's early 90's meeting him through my dear friend Gary. Don and I shot pool on teams with Gary, Jen, Chris, Vic, and many many more over the years. We would stay out late and talk after pool and we even found time to share a beer or twenty on occasion. Don could cut through a drab, sad moment with a one-liner that would put the room in stitches. His sense of humor was one of his strong points only out shadowed by his love of family and his enduring friendships.
Quick story: My family planned a trip to Texas one year and of our 5 stop tour, I made sure one was to San Antonio. We took the kids to the Alamo and then went to lunch when Don surprised us by meeting us there. It was already set that we would meet up that night to shoot pool but Nancy would stay at the hotel to watch the kids. Don felt the need to meet us at lunch to at least say hello to Nancy since she wouldn't be joining us that evening. Don was in San Antonio by himself as he just relocated and Sandy was still in the house in Joliet. When I went to his place I heard the TV on and looked in the window only to find him asleep on the recliner. I walked back to the vehicle and started to leave. I thought, Don would kick my ass if I left. I pulled back into the parking spot, walked up to the door and lightly knocked. He didn't wake up, I thought again about leaving, but walking around with 'ONID' on my sixhead (I'm bald, much larger than a forehead) didn't seem like a good idea so I went back to the door. 'ONID' would be Don punching me and the 'DINO' tattoo from his fingers being imprinted on my sixhead backwards. I then rang the doorbell and he jumped out of the recliner like he was shot out of a cannon. We went out for the night shooting pool, telling stories, catching up and drinking lots of water. Hey, there is water in beer you know. At the end of the night, Don asked me to take the pool cue home that I was shooting with but I just couldn't. I said it belongs to your children or grandkids.
I could go on and on with memories and stories but I'm sure I've already put a few of you to sleep. Jenny/Chris, Kim and family, I hope to see you again sometime soon to hug the stuffing out of you and tell you how much I care about Don. Gary/Lynn, and family, I'll see you all again soon and break down and cry like a little kid when I do.
To you Mr. Wolz.....Don.....my friend!! I know you're in Heaven and I know I'll see you there someday since the devil has a restraining order on me. I'll rack them up when I see you. We'll laugh and reminisce about the old times, maybe even share some water. less
Dad came to visit us when Zoe was 1 1/2 years old. Hank and I asked him to babysit one evening so we could have a rare night out. After dinner and a movie, we returned home around 10:00. Dad was asleep on the floor in Zoe’s room, with his arm... moreDad came to visit us when Zoe was 1 1/2 years old. Hank and I asked him to babysit one evening so we could have a rare night out. After dinner and a movie, we returned home around 10:00. Dad was asleep on the floor in Zoe’s room, with his arm through her crib. Apparently, she wouldn’t go to sleep and kept crying for Pop Pop to “rub my back”. So he did. Until he fell asleep. less
Jen and Kim I hope you enjoy this memory. We were on our way to a Citywide Tournament, and your Dad was driving Bob, Mark and myself. For some reason Gary wasn’t with us. I was next to Don, Bob was behind me, and Mark next to him. Your Dad told us... moreJen and Kim I hope you enjoy this memory. We were on our way to a Citywide Tournament, and your Dad was driving Bob, Mark and myself. For some reason Gary wasn’t with us. I was next to Don, Bob was behind me, and Mark next to him. Your Dad told us that if we won on Saturday, he wouldn’t be able to make it on Sunday. Due to the fact your Dad was always in our crucial matches, Bob asked why he couldn’t make it. Don said he had to go to a convention. Bob was not taking that answer, so he asked what convention? A Collectors convention..........Bob still wouldn’t sit for that answer. Finally your Dad said, a doll collectors convention. The car went silent..........then Bob said “Aren’t you a little Old to be playing with F...ing Dolls? No one spoke, your Dad looked at Bob in the mirror with that death stare for a minute, and then laughed. We all couldn’t stop laughing!!! I told Gary when I saw Don looking in the mirror, I could see DINO on Bobs forehead. A great memory of a Great Man. I Loved playing pool all those years. And really enjoyed the friendship we built!!! God Bless you Sir, until next time!!! Love ya, Vic less
Gary Wolz
Sure wish I’d been there for that one. Not sure why I wasn’t there. Of course I’d heard that story over the years, and it never gets old. Thanks for the memory!
On our way to citywide pool tournament. I’m pretty sure this was the dream team year. It was so cool to play pool with my dad, my brother, and my soon to be husband!
One of my favorite memories of Don was his annual Thanksgiving visit when we lived in Houston. He and Sandy would drive over from San Antonio and spend a day and a night with us. Along with Chris and Jen Tate, Lou Binder and Suzy Walker and the girls... moreOne of my favorite memories of Don was his annual Thanksgiving visit when we lived in Houston. He and Sandy would drive over from San Antonio and spend a day and a night with us. Along with Chris and Jen Tate, Lou Binder and Suzy Walker and the girls (Kim, Zoe and Phoebe) we'd all go and shoot pool after Thanksgiving dinner. We always went to "Slick Willies" on Westheimer. It was always a hoot, and we'd take an annual picture to celebrate the evening. After a couple of years of doing this the bar tender always remembered us!
The first year we went Don had brought along several of his personal pool cue sticks replete with cases. They were all very well made and had inlaid patterns and were well balanced. After remarking on how cool they all looked. At the end of the evening he lined them up in the back of his truck and asked each of us to pick out a stick. These had to be very expensive sticks, and the magnitude of the gift was not lost on me. Every year after that we'd all grab our sticks, which had fitted cases and head out to the pool hall feeling extra cool as we pulled the sticks out of their cases and screwed them together, just like the pros! I mentioned to him one year that whilst I LOVED the gift, I didn't notice that it had improved my game much. He just smiled and remarked that the stick can only do so much. 🙂 less
Gary WolzThis is one of my favorite photos of Dad with a grandchild. A funny story to accompany, was that on occasion when we had an important event to attend, Dad would come watch the kids. Not wanting to be a “downer” grandpa, he’d basically never put... moreThis is one of my favorite photos of Dad with a grandchild. A funny story to accompany, was that on occasion when we had an important event to attend, Dad would come watch the kids. Not wanting to be a “downer” grandpa, he’d basically never put them to bed but rather play until they couldn’t go any longer. One particular memory was when we went to a work Christmas party, and on our return, found Justin (pictured - may even have actually been from the same night) asleep under the living room coffee table. Asking Dad what’s he doing under there, his answer was “well we were playing and having so much fun, he just tuckered out and crashed there”. less
Dad and I had many great memories playing pool together on various teams. One particular team was our 1993 team which made it to the final 16 teams (out of several hundred) at the national finals in Vegas. This was a memorable team not only because we... moreDad and I had many great memories playing pool together on various teams. One particular team was our 1993 team which made it to the final 16 teams (out of several hundred) at the national finals in Vegas. This was a memorable team not only because we did well, but also because it was really a "family" team. My Dad, my sister and her husband, my best friend and his sister plus her husband, and one more friend made this team a lot of fun, plus gave us a season of great memories. Dad was always the sleeping giant we brought out in critical matches because nothing ever seemed to phase him, and he was at his best when the team needed it most. I'm so glad we had these opportunities together, as so many of my friends became his friends over the years through pool. He'll be missed by so many. less
I have so many wonderful memories of my dad, I don't even know where to start. We loved watching scary movies together, playing cards (rummy) while drinking our flavored tea, going to the empty school parking lot in his little MG and doing 360's on the... moreI have so many wonderful memories of my dad, I don't even know where to start. We loved watching scary movies together, playing cards (rummy) while drinking our flavored tea, going to the empty school parking lot in his little MG and doing 360's on the slick snow (Gary and I laughing and having a blast but Kim was screaming stop!). "I found my lane, you find your own (while he drove down the middle of the road, which was deserted so it was fun). He drove me to my figure skating practices and watched attentively while I practiced what he liked to call my double klutz. :) And cheered me on when I landed it! He drove me to other states, in nasty weather, so I could compete in skating competitions. Dad drove us to downtown Chicago so I could do my ice dancing on Sundays, and we always went to the deli down the street and got the gigantic pickles. We used to have pepper eating contests to see who would make a face first. He introduced me to to so many fun things, including The Little Nash Rambler (Beep Beep song) which always makes me think of him whenever I hear it (at karaoke!). I was always so proud that I had such a cool, funny dad. His jokes ALWAYS made me laugh, without fail.
I can't believe he is gone. There is a hole in my heart where he used to be. I was a very lucky little girl, young adult, and middle aged woman, to have him for my dad. Love you forever, Dad. less
I met Don very early on when he bowled on Friday nights with my parents. He was always a nice guy to me back then even though I was a grade school kid back in the 60's . When I would sit there drawing up diagrams of electrical circuits, he'd come by and... moreI met Don very early on when he bowled on Friday nights with my parents. He was always a nice guy to me back then even though I was a grade school kid back in the 60's . When I would sit there drawing up diagrams of electrical circuits, he'd come by and ask me what I was 'designing'.
Add 14 or so years and this 'Folger-Adam' company advertised the need for an electrical assembler that my parents pointed out to me. I applied, got the job, and started the next day. Little did I know that Don and some of the other 'Friday-Nighters' kind of planned this and I spent the next 30 years working with Don and the others.
Don was on my very short list of people who 'knew their stuff' intimately. I would go to him about all things Folger-Adam and detention systems. He was cordial and resourceful as anyone I have ever met. And best of all, he shared that with everyone he encountered. He had a common sense and a logic streak that went on for miles and brought being a caring person to an art form.
When Don & Sandy moved to Texas I felt a little emptier even though we kind of kept in touch over the last 15 years. When I heard of his passing, I really felt like I lost a piece of me and that the world is a lot smaller. I have no other way to explain it other than to say 'God-speed' Don; you will be missed and remembered fondly by this guy for as long as I live.
Peace and happy rest, my friend and mentor... less
Sandy is my sister and Terry and I were very sorry to see them move to Texas because we always enjoyed spending time with them. Don was always fun to be around whether it was just to drop by for a visit or a family Christmas party or picnic. We managed... moreSandy is my sister and Terry and I were very sorry to see them move to Texas because we always enjoyed spending time with them. Don was always fun to be around whether it was just to drop by for a visit or a family Christmas party or picnic. We managed one trip to visit Don and Sandy and Don planned long excursions to show us the sights. Don was a kind and generous person and we will miss him. less
This is Randy Wolz's wife,Jennifer. While I never had the pleasure of meeting Don I heard wonderful things about him. I am so sorry for the heartache and loss of him to the Wolz family. May all that are hurting from his passing receive comfort and love... moreThis is Randy Wolz's wife,Jennifer. While I never had the pleasure of meeting Don I heard wonderful things about him. I am so sorry for the heartache and loss of him to the Wolz family. May all that are hurting from his passing receive comfort and love at this sorrowful time. less