John V. Woulfe Jr.

John V. Woulfe Jr., of Frankfort, Illinois, died peacefully in his sleep June 24, four days after celebrating his 90th birthday. The former U.S. Marine was dedicated to his family, his Catholic faith and the flag.

Mr. Woulfe was born June 20, 1935, to John Sr. and Celeste Woulfe in Chicago. After graduating from Saint Ignatius College Prep in 1953, he studied business at the University of Notre Dame. The South Side-born, Irish-American’s brash confidence won him many friends and the occasional foe.

He graduated in June 1957, the same month he turned 22, wed his college sweetheart, and reported for officer training at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. He and bride Nancy Woulfe, née Roethele, relocated from base to base before 2nd Lt. Woulfe was assigned to the First Pioneer Battalion in Camp Pendleton, California.

The young officer rose to the rank of 1st Lieutenant, training a platoon in the fine art of building and detonating bridges. He and his wife welcomed two children before his honorable discharge in the 1960s. Six more children followed within a decade.

Mr. Woulfe succeeded his father in 1967 as president of Clyde Printing, one of Chicago’s oldest family-owned printing companies. Clients included the Chicago White Sox, the Cubs, the Bears and Armour-Dial. The company flourished, and the family grew. The Woulfes moved from Park Forest to Dolton to South Holland to Frankfort to accommodate their brood.

Mr. Woulfe sold the business to daughter Colleen in 1996 and remained active in the business, retiring in 2020. As emptynesters, he and his wife enjoyed date nights and Michigan getaways.

A force of nature, Mr. Woulfe was an avid reader, golfer, fisherman, and a generous contributor to charities. He liked his drinks cold and his homemade beef-vegetable soup piping-hot. His dedication to the Notre Dame Club of Chicago and the South Suburban Marine Corps League was as legendary as his passion for education. All eight children were advised they could enlist or go to college. All chose college.

Beside Nancy, his wife of 68 years, Mr. Woulfe is survived by three daughters, Molly Woulfe (Ed Bierschenk), Colleen (Chris Law), and Katie Woulfe Weil (Mark Weil); four sons, Martin (Angela Aznarte), Neil, John III, and Daniel (Tonette Kliment); 10 grandchildren; a great-grandchild, and his sister, Frances Ann Floeter. He was preceded in death by his son Brian, sisters Virginia Woulfe and Maureen Lane, nephew Michael Lane, and many more relatives, in-laws and friends. All were cherished.

Visitation is 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. July 1 at Kurtz Memorial Chapel, 65 Old Frankfort Way, Frankfort. Mass will be said at 11 a.m. July 2 at St. Anthony Catholic Church, 7659 Sauk Trail, Frankfort. Burial will follow at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery, 87th Street and South Hamlin Avenue, Evergreen Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to the John ’53 and Nancy Woulfe Endowment at Saint Ignatius College Prep in support of the Tuition Assistance Program. Gifts may be made via check c/o David Stephens, 1076 W. Roosevelt Road, Chicago, IL 60608, by phone at (312) 432-8321 or credit card at https://www.ignatius.org/in-memory-of-john-v-woulfe-jr-53.