Elizabeth "Betty" Wolfe

Elizabeth “Betty” Louise Wolfe, 98, of Mount Vernon, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, March 5, 2026, at the Rehabilitation Center of Lisbon. Visitation: 2:00-4:00 p.m., Sunday, March 15, 2026, with a Vigil Service and sharing of memories at 4:00 p.m., St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Mount Vernon, Iowa. Funeral Mass: 10:30 a.m., Monday, March 16, 2026, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Mount Vernon. Burial: St. John’s Catholic Cemetery, Lisbon. Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Mount Vernon, is assisting the family with arrangements.

Betty was born on September 17, 1927, to Joseph and Marie Pospisil, the eighth of ten children on the farm two miles south of Mount Vernon. She graduated from Mount Vernon High School in 1945 and went on to complete a nursing degree from Mercy Hospital.

Betty married her high school sweetheart John Wolfe on August 23, 1949, and raised eight children in the big brick house on the hill. Betty played the organ and was an active servant in St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Betty worked in nursing for over 30 years, including director of nursing at Mechanicsville Care Center. She then transitioned to real estate with Hertz Farm Management.

Betty’s passions were raising kids, playing golf (19 Hillcrest Club championships), gardening and walking in Palisades Park daily. She described the “Pal” as her “heaven on earth”. Her strong and bold spirit allowed her to master just about anything she put her mind to, including resurrecting the big brick house on the hill, artistically painting walls and portraits. Betty received her private pilot’s license and loved flying whenever she got the chance. She once flew solo to Little Rock, Arkansas to visit a friend. Above all, Betty loved spending time with her family, whether it was a chicken cookout, competitive croquet with her grandchildren, or her famous Easter Egg hunt. She was always up for making the best homemade apple pie and cookies to share her love. And woe to the person who challenged her in the nightly Wheel of Fortune match up!

Betty was involved in numerous local organizations including Southeast Linn/Meals on Wheels, Birthright of Cedar Rapids, National Czech and Slovak Museum, the local garden club, and St. John’s religious education and music. She spent little time looking back but rather forward, to new life chapters and what she would learn from them.

The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to Hospice of Mercy, whose staff came alongside us in the final years of caring for mom.  Even advanced dementia could not stop Betty from enthusiastically singing along with hospice music therapy.

In lieu of flowers, please direct memorial donations to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Southeast Linn Community Center, or Hospice of Mercy.

Betty is survived by her children, Barb Wolfe of Durango, Colorado, Tom Wolfe of Mount Vernon, Joe (Kelli) Wolfe of Mount Vernon, Patrick Wolfe of Mount Vernon, Andy (Anissa) Wolfe of Mount Vernon, Mary (Doug) Morningstar of Lisbon, and Susie (Chris) See of Mount Vernon; 15 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband, John; her parents; son, Steven; and siblings, Agnes, Stell, Eleanor, Mary, Philip, Joseph, Robert, Paul, and Helen.