It Happened in Crawford County: Dale Wolfe's lifetime of community service

Dale Wolfe is a son of Harold, a farmer south of Nevada, a water hauler and avid coon hunter. His mom was Betty McClintock Wolfe. Older brother Bob lives in Kansas.

Dale started school in Nevada, went to middle school at Mt. Zion and high school at Wynford. Vocational agriculture was his favorite, learning to be well rounded, parliamentary procedures, running meetings and the skills of farming. He was on the general livestock judging team learning to judge hogs, sheep and cattle.

Their Wynford FFA team won the national general livestock judging the second time he went to the Kansas City Convention in Kansas City. It was a big deal. Sports was out; dad needed him on the farm. Dale graduated from Wynford H. S. in 1975 and started to work at many different venues.

A career in radio started at the fair

Dale was serving on the Junior Fair Board in Wyandot County and, with that connection, he became a runner at the local radio station. Part of the job was collecting fair stories which got the attention of the radio station’s manager. He said, “Dale if you need a job when you get out of school, give me a call.” It was in 1975 when Dale called, and within three days he was working at the WYAN Radio Station.

He began as a night shift disc jockey playing rock music. Over the next three years he worked up to news director and then operations director. During the January 1978 blizzard, he headed north in the wrong direction going to work. The snow was so heavy he couldn’t see and there wasn’t any power. Life had stopped as people knew it. The sheriff picked him up and eventually Dale got to Carey where he could broadcast remotely. If people could call the station, he could help them call others. His car was buried under the snow for four days.

Dale met Joan Staib from McCutchenville when he was playing Santa at the grocery where she worked. She made fun of him, so he went back later, after the "Santa gig" — and yes, they got married after a courtship on Nov. 24, 1978. Dale’s dad passed on Dec. 17 and her dad, Gilbert, passed on Dec. 31. It was a difficult time. Dale had also taken the civil service exam in the fall of 1978 and was interviewed by the Bucyrus chief of police. In the meantime, he took a job with Ohio Power as a clerk in the Upper Sandusky office.

From Ohio Power to Bucyrus Police

Then, in May 1980, his boss was upset that Dale was leaving for the Bucyrus Police Department. It was a big surprise to Dale, since he knew nothing about it; but he later learned he was going to be hired. This was the beginning of his career with them. After 25 years, in 2005, he retired as the executive captain under Chief Corwin and later Chief Teets by taking over John T. Stanley’s job.

Dale had a bad knee and a "hefty" 316 pound weight problem. It wasn’t logical, but they bought “Bloomville for Ice Cream.” He thought “I’m going to Bloomville for ice cream" was easy to remember. They owned the business one year.

In early May 2006, a year after retirement while at an auction, Sheriff Mike Hetzel said, “if you would like to keep your commission, I’ll put you on as a special deputy.” Within an hour, Dale was being sworn in outside the home of the common pleas judge. He lost weight, got to feeling better, resigned from the Sheriff’s Office and went on as part time with the Upper Sandusky police department.

Life was changing fast. In 2010 the Crawford County Courthouse had a part-time security position open, and Sheriff Ron Shawber hired him as a plain clothes deputy. He was in the same building as his wife Joan, and he saw many folks he had formerly arrested. He retired 11 years later in 2021. While formally retired, for Dale, it's more time for volunteering.

A community volunteer

Dale still plays Santa. He served on the board for “BASE” (Bucyrus After School Education), Council of Aging Board and the Central Committee for Republicans in 2006. Dale and Joan were also 4-H advisors for “The Nevada Bobcats.” In January 2022 Steve Ritzhaupt asked Dale to be on the board of LifeWise Academy that was just being formed. LifeWise is a released-time religious education program. Its means students are released from school to have a class period of religious education, off campus, finishing the day back at school.

LifeWise began with one class in Colonel Crawford, Wynford and Bucyrus schools in two grades at each place. They hope to expand to three grades each school and to be in all six schools in the county. The feedback from teachers is awesome, with one student asking if they have LifeWise for parents. It’s bringing the faith back to the home; a wonderful program. Dale and Joan are also very active in the Emanuel United Church of Christ known as "the Mud Church” in Wyandot County. They recently helped with the “Night Out” at the church with 200 people attending.

Dale and Joan have three children: Zachary, EMS lieutenant in Delaware County; Amos, lieutenant with the Bucyrus Police Department, canine officer plus many other titles; and Elita, the chief deputy clerk in the Crawford County Common Pleas Clerk Court.

In closing Dale has found his life’s work to be fulfilling, educational and learning to deal with people from all walks of life. Each job has built upon the other and now, looking back, it’s been a great life — so blessed.

Go online for more of Mary Fox’s stories and photos on bucyrustelegraphforum.com. If you are interested in sharing a story, write Mary Fox, 931 Marion Road, Bucyrus, OH 44820 or email littlefoxfactory@columbus.rr.com.

This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: Dale Wolfe and his life of community service