Remembering Idona (Holbrook) Wolfe

Idona J. Wolfe, 49, Excelsior, MN passed away on April 29, 2014 at the Mayo Clinic Hospital-Methodist Campus, Rochester, Minn., surrounded by family after an early celebration of her upcoming 50th birthday. She was the former Academic Advising Director for the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences.

Idona Jean Streifel was born May 21, 1964, the daughter of Henry and Delores (Heilman) Streifel in Esmond, N.D. Idona battled breast cancer for many years using her strategy of Live, Laugh, Love for strength. Idona loved to garden, travel, and spend time with her friends. She grew up in Esmond and graduated from Esmond High School.

She attended the University of North Dakota and graduated with a masters degree in marketing in 1992. She then worked in the financial department of Lake Region Community College in Devils Lake. She moved to the University of North Dakota, where she worked in Enrollment Services, taught classes and in 1996 was a student academic advisor at the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences, where she became a “second mom” to many students. In 2010, Idona moved to Excelsior, Minn., to share her life with Jamie Wolfe. Jamie and Idona were married Oct. 26, 2013 in Las Vegas. They also spent time at their home in Scottsdale, Ariz., when the weather became too cold.

Please join us for the Celebration of Idona’s Life. Flower arrangements in shades of pink and white were Idona’s favorites. Sponsorship under Idona’s name in the Grand Forks Relay for Life, 4646 Amber Valley Parkway, Fargo, N.D. 58104 is the preferred memorial.

She is survived by husband, Jamie Wolfe, Excelsior, Minn.; daughters, Paige and Marit Mikkelsen, Grand Forks, ND; Jamie’s children, Tyler Wolfe, Boone, Iowa, Rachel Wolfe, Delano, Minn.; sisters, Carrie (Mike) Smith, Burke,, Va., Susan Kraft, Barb (Harlan) Jensen, Jola (supportive friend, Dawn Zimney) Streifel, all of Grand Forks; brothers, Jeff (Teri) Streifel, Cando, N.D., Cy (supportive friend Trish Slaybaugh) Streifel, Esmond; many nieces and nephews and their children.

Idona was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Delores Streifel; brother, Tim and brother in law, Tom Kraft.

Mass of Christian Burial: 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 6, 2014 in Holy Family Catholic Church, 1005 17th Avenue South, Grand Forks.
Visitation: 5 to 7 p.m., Monday with a 4:30 p.m. rosary service and a 7 p.m. vigil service at Holy Family Catholic Church. Visitation will continue for one hour prior to the liturgy in the church on Tuesday.
Burial: St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery, Esmond, at 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 7, 2014.