Homer Eric Wulf

Homer Wulf passed away November 6, 2015 at Rosetta Assisted Living in Helena with his wife of 73 years by his side. Homer was born in Froid, MT on July 18, 1921, the second of nine children of John William (Jack) Wulf and Esther Idell Strandlund Wulf. Five sisters joined the family before his first brother was born when Homer was 12. Much of his time was spent hunting waterfowl and rabbits on the pothole lakes and sand hills. He didn’t fit well in the academic setting of Froid High School so dropped out after his freshman year. Despite the brief formal education, he stated that his love of words could have made him a success as a journalist and did make him a formidable opponent at Scrabble. He also invented words or new meanings to words (called “Homerisms” by his family), for example, “thumb buster” for hammer. At 17, he joined the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) and was based near Columbia Falls, MT, where he eventually settled on a 5-acre plot he called “Rancho Lobo.”

August 22, 1942, he married Lorraine (Lanie) Insteness, also of Froid, in Couer d’Alene, ID. Enlisting in the US Army Air Corps in 1942, he served as a radio instructor at Yuma, AZ Air Field. Training he received in the Army qualified him to become an electrician after discharge. He partnered in an electrical business in Froid but moved back to the Flathead when his partner died. Hungry Horse Dam was then under construction and he was able to find employment with Casey Electric, an electrical subcontractor on that project. After the dam was finished, he continued working for Casey on the Anaconda Aluminum Plant construction project at Columbia Falls, the Columbia river working on power projects, and across Montana wiring radar bases. Tiring of the travel, he took a job as maintenance electrician for Glacier National Park, which allowed him to enjoy hiking and fishng in Glacier. After leaving the park, he became an electrical contractor, calling his business Quality Electric, until retiring about 1990. In 2009, Homer & Lanie sold their home of 52 years outside of Columbia Falls and moved to Helena to be nearer family.

Everyone acquainted with Homer will recall a story or two. He was able to converse (usually in great length) with friends and strangers alike. His enthusiasm for life was endless and often found him exploring ideas that, in his mind, would solve problems in work and daily living. Even new tools would yield to modifications that improved upon the inventors’ objectives. He delighted in demonstrating his many skills to kids, be it carving a willow whistle, showing how to tie a special knot, identifying edible mushrooms, recreating with embellishment the story told by animal tracks … Deserving of mention is a compulsion to identify as many uses as possible for used baling twine.

In 1958 he took the hand of Jesus and began a new journey which transcended all other pursuits. The part of that journey that involved his walk on this earth is now over. Family and friends will recall with comfort how he often spoke of his walk toward an eternal destination, which he has now reached.

Homer was preceded in death by his parents and sisters Winifred, Joan, Marlys, brother Fritz and son-in-law Don Kuipers. He is survived by his wife, Lanie; sisters Beverly, Roma, and Meredith and brother Gordon; 3 sons, Gary (Linda) of Helena, Jeff (Bette) of Clancy, John of Boise, ID, and two daughters, Sharyn Kuipers of Manhattan, and Lynette (Ben) O’Neal of May, ID; 12 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service and reception will be held Saturday, November 14 at 2:00 PM at the Elks Lodge at 330 Lola Street in Helena. Memorials are suggested to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Service Schedule

Share

Send flowers

Please visit the floral shop page for assistance in choosing a local florist.

Photo Gallery

No photos have been submitted yet.
Click here to share yours.