Rev. Daniel Williard Wolboldt, 69, North Warren, was recovered by rescue volunteers from the waters of the Conewango Creek on Sunday, April 28, 2013. He was born June 8, 1943, in Canfield, Ohio to John Daniel and Alice Beverly Williard Wolboldt who survive of Canfield, Ohio. Dan was a 1961 graduate of Canfield High School and he completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture and Education in 1966 from The Ohio State University where he was an ROTC Cadet Colonel and Commander of the Cadet Corps. He was a Distinguished Military Graduate and was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army. In 1969 he earned a Masters of Divinity from the Methodist Theological School in Ohio (METHESCO) and completed doctoral work at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. As an ordained minister he served as a Chaplain in the United States Army at home and overseas, most notably with the 82nd Airborne Division as the Deputy Division Chaplain. His military awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Airborne wings, German Airborne Wings, Army Achievement Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Army Service medal, Overseas Medal with 1 Device and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal. He was a member of the American Legion Keystone State Lodge. With 22 years of service he retired in 1989 and relocated to Warren where he was employed as a Clinical Mental Health Supervisor at the Warren Forest County Department of Health and Human Services and in 1991he was recognized by the Warren County Victim/Witness Program with the Warren County Victim Advocacy Award for Outstanding Victim Advocacy. Since 2003 he has served as the Chaplain at the Interfaith Chapel and Spiritual Support Services Director at the Warren State Hospital. He served on the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross, the Warren Players Club and the Struthers Library Theatre. He felt privileged to be involved in various aspects of the theatre from set building to production management in support of youth theatre participation. He was a 25 year member of the North Warren Presbyterian Church and served as interim pastor there for a year. In addition to his position at the Warren State Hospital, he was currently serving as the interim pastor of the Emmanuel United Church of Christ. He also served as the treasurer of the Warren Area Ministerium Dan was a dedicated 60 year member of the Boy Scouts of America serving youth in numerous capacities and locations in the United States as well as in the Transatlantic Council while stationed in Europe. As a youth, Dan, was a Boy Scout in Troop 25 sponsored by the Canfield United Methodist Church, Canfield, Ohio, where he earned the Eagle Award and was presented with the Vigil Honor and was a member of the Neatoka Lodge Order of the Arrow. During his life he had received many Scouter awards and honors including: the District Award of Merit, Scouters Training Award, the St. George Award of the Roman Catholic Church, the God and Service Award from the Presbyterian Church of the U.S.A., the Silver Beaver Award from the Transatlantic Council B.S.A., Founder’s Award from the Order of the Arrow, the Silver Antelope Award from the Northeast Region, and he was a Four-Bead Recipient of the Wood Badge Training Program. He especially valued the 27 Eagle Scout Mentor Pin Awards he has received during his years with Troop 13 and the “Golden Man-Hole-Cover” he received at the closing campfire at Camp Olmsted’s Summer Camp. Dan’s adult leadership and service positions include Unit Commissioner, Merit Badge Counselor, Council Executive Board Member, Venturing Crew Advisor, Varsity Scout Coach National Camp School Staff, National Jamboree Sub-Camp Staff, Wood Badge Staff, Wood Badge Course Director, Camp Visitation Specialist and Staff, Chancellor Commissioner’s College West, Section Advisor for the Order of the Arrow, District Training Chairman, District Commissioner, Council Training Chairman, OA Lodge Advisor and Council Commissioner. This leadership service extended from local to regional and area service in various councils. Other service includes Campaganza Staff Food Service/Commissary Director, Summer Camp Staff, Camp Chaplain for 21 years at Camp Olmsted, Scout Craft Director and Camp Bugle Corps at Camp Olmsted. In 2012 Dan was recognized as a Hometown Hero in Warren County and in 2013 he was selected as part of the National Scoutmaster Recognition Program to be one of 56 Scoutmasters nationwide to attend the National Annual Meeting of the Boy Scouts of America and represent all Scoutmaster nation-wide. He was currently serving as the District Commissioner for the Chief Cornplanter Council, the Lodge Advisor for the Gyantwachia Lodge, Order of the Arrow and the Scoutmaster of Troop 13 in North Warren, PA, sponsored by the North Warren Presbyterian Church. He has attended every National Jamboree since 1957. He was the Scoutmaster for the Chief Cornplanter Council Troop to the 1993 National jamboree and the Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 13 at the 1997 National Jamboree. He headed the Council Contingent to the National Order of the Arrow conference and took local Scouts to the Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico. Surviving are his parents, his wife of 45 years, Penelope Barley Wolboldt who he married in 1968, a daughter, Michelle Wabrek and three grandsons, Auden, Trillin and Asher of Louisville, KY, his sister Barbara Wszelaki of Seville, Ohio, and two brothers, William C. Wolboldt of Colorado Springs, Colorado and Dr. Clinton G. Wolboldt of Ransom Canyon, Texas. There will be a memorial service at the Struthers Library Theatre, 302 W. Third Avenue, Warren, PA. on Saturday, May 4th, at 11:00 A.M. Friends may inquire at the Donald E. Lewis Funeral Home, Inc., for information regarding the memorial service. The Public is asked to please send remembrances and thoughts of Dan to Chief Cornplanter Council of the Boy Scouts of America, 316 Fourth Avenue, Warren, Pa. 16365. A private burial will be held at the Excelsior/Vroman Cemetery near Grand Valley at a later date. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial donations may be made to the Chief Cornplanter Council of the Boy Scouts of America, the Struthers Library Theatre, the Warren Public Library, 205 Market Street, Warren, PA. 16365, the North Warren Presbyterian Church, 200 S. State Street, Warren, PA. 16365 or the General Joseph Warren Chapter of the DAR, %Judith Wilson, President, 105 Alexander St., Warren, PA. 16365. E-mail condolences may be sent by visiting www.lewisfuneralhome.com
I had the pleasure of working with Dan for the last number of years. We had a group at the State Hospital known as the “Chapel Singers”. We would include patients who wished to sing together as a group and would sing on an occasional Sunday morning service. Dan sang the loudest of all! He will be greatly missed for the fellowship that this group provides. We will carry on in his absence but he will never leave our thoughts. Prayers are with the family at this difficult time.
Penny, It has been many years, but I wanted to let you know that I am thinking about you and your family during this difficult time. I am so sorry for your loss.
Penny, Know that you and your children and all of the family.are in my prayers. I had the pleasure of working beside Dan at the State Hospital for 4 years and they were the most wonderful years of my life. Reading over the obit Dan did some wonderful things and accomplished wonderful things. But the most wonderful were that he found you and married you and the children and the grandkids. For truly you are his greatest honors for all of them are rooted in love. Nothing that I can say will take away your sense of loss or questions, but remember Psalm 23 to give you comfort and strength. God Bless. Ray
Penny, Michelle and Family, Dan and I have many times that we have discussed family, Scouts, Church Luncheons, and various other topics. I still giggle when he told me about how upset your Mom was Penny when myDad left my Mom and your Mom told him just what she thought about what he’s done…. I always looked forward to the drive back and forth to Erie because I got to tell him “where to go” as he told the patients… I navigated him to the varoious churches we visited. I also looked forward to the stories he told about his childhood and his various adventures. All I can say is his Mom and Dad earned every gray hair they have on their heads !!!!!! My life and my son Bryan’s have been blessed and made richer having had Dan in our lives. Keep your Memories close and He won’t be far away. Prayers and Hugs to you and Yours.
Penny-
I am not sure you remember me. My parents were Dr. Harold and Eileen Reinhard. Your Dad, Harry, gave me one of the best memories, when he gave me a ride in his Corvette, when I was a kid.
Please know that you have my deepest sympathy on the loss of your husband. I know that there is little I can say to console you, but please know that my thoughts are with you and your family, at this tragic time.
Dan will be missed-
Sheila
Dear Penny, Please accept our deepest condolences and know that our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time. We have fond memories of Dan and having many pleasant conversations with you both – All our love, Horst, Ingeborg & Brian Ruhl
Please know how sorry I am for Mr. Woldboldt’s passing. He was such a good man. Even though it has been almost seventeen years since I have been one of his scouts, I still think of him often and smile.
-Greg Nagurney, Jr.
Penny, I cannot even begin to imagine what the past month has been like. Please know that you and your family have been in my thoughts. I have such fond memories of Dan. But the most special is the funeral he conducted for my mother. He shared so many of his own memories of Gonny and then was able to engage many of the attendees to share as well. As usual, he was thoughtful, patient and an extremely generous man.
What a loss for you and your family but also for both the religious and scouting communities.
All my love,
Heidi Link McAfee
Dear Penny and family, I was so sorry to hear about your loss. Dan was a good friend while we were growing up in Canfield and I enjoyed so much talking with him at the recent class reunion. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Just know, that we will all miss Dan and have been better people just knowing him. He was such an asset to his family, friends, country and community. Love to all of you. Classmate, Linda Cashon Carlile
Dear Penny and family, I am so sorry for your loss. Dan, Barbara, Jim & Judy Patterson and I grew up together on Leffingwell Road in Canfield. We were the only kids on the road. It was great to see and talk with Dan at our 50th reunion especially after all these years. I always admired all he did with the Scouts and it was so nice to have him say grace before our meal at the reunion. I will always remember the fun times we had as we grew up and then went our own ways in life. May the Lord give you strength and peace during this difficult time. Marcia Clay Klemens, Classmate of Dan’s for all of our school years at Canfield
My deepest sympathy to the Wolboldt family. I graduated with Dan in 1961, He was a blessing to all the lives he touched.
John, Bev, Barb, Bill, Clint, Penny, Michelle, and all family, friends, classmates, scouts, and recipients of his love, Dan will be remembered in my heart as a friend to all; as one of the best and loudest voices in our Youth Choir at the Canfield United Methodist Church; as a very funny and fun guy, who didn’t talk down to underclassmen; as a person with the widest, warmest smile imaginable, and as a man who gave himself unselfishly to others…God, country, community, as well as to his family. We pray for you all, asking for His Grace, Strength, and overwhelming Love at this most difficult time.
Penny, Shelly and family
My deepest sympathy for you and the family. Danny was 2 years ahead of me at Ohio State…we shared rides to and from Canfield to OSU over the college years. My sister Kam and Danny were high school classmates. Kam McDonald Forrest and I monitored the events of Danny’s missing two weeks before her death on April 4th of this year after a few months of severe illness and I was unable to to send condolences at that time. Kam would also have been heartsick to know of Danny’s death.
Kam and Danny did the MYF, the choir (she was the pianist) and lots of community activities in high school.
My prayers of peace and acceptance at this difficult time. Mada McDonald Hodgson Janosik
Miss you Bro
Rev. Wolboldt was a good man, concerned for everyone of the patients at the hospital. I worked with him for the last few years and he was a pleasure to work with, went out of his way wherever he could to help.
May the G-d Almighty give his family the strength to move on and follow in his footsteps.
Just learned of Dan’s passing, and I am so sorry to hear this. My condolences to the whole family. I remember him so well as a young boy, working on Red Gate Farm nearby, and on the bus to school! It was in talking with Dave Gaier, formerly of Red Gate, about the passing of his father Bud, that I learned of Dan — memories that go back 50 years, but are so dear to our hearts. Cherish the memories; a life well-lived.
Just learned of Dan’s death; we are so sorry to hear of his passing. Dan married my husband and I in the Canfield Methodist Church, December 14, 1968. I understand it was his first marriage ceremony. Well, he did a very good job, as we will celebrate our 49th anniversary this year. I wanted him to perform the ceremony because of the many special memories of his leadership in Youth Group and Choir.
While conducting historical research for a personal essay for seminary, I was reviewing a typed, single page outline in my files titled “Excursion into Ministry” with Rev. Dan Wolboldt listed as “a neighborhood minister.” We were beginning a weekend, round trip bus ride from Grace Methodist Church in Springfield, Ohio, to visit churches and ministries from rural and inner-city setting to coffee houses and the Methodist Theological School in the central and west central regions. Dan spoke with us for about 30 minutes before boarded us on the bus. That brief encounter with Dan was in the Spring of 1968. My second and final encounter with Dan was again in Springfield. He was teaching the Life Saving Merit Badge and I was in the class. To this day, I recall his instruction and training methods. Dan would play the drowning victim and we would have to practice on him…nearly drowning us in our attempt to safe him! He taught us stealth in the water by laying quietly at poolside with his eyes shut. Using what we had learned from him, we had to successfully enter the water on the far side of the pool, swim over to where he was laying, and touch him without making a sound. If Dan heard even a bubble or splash, he called to us to begin again. These are my memories. I can only imagine what wonder Dan is living with Christ in heaven.