2nd Lieutenant Jeremy Lee Wolfe, age 27, formerly of Menomonie, died Saturday, Nov. 15, 2003, in Iraq.

Jeremy Lee Wolfe was born on Aug. 16, 1976, at Memorial Hospital in Menomonie to David (Butch) L. Wolfe and Jane S. Cass of Menomonie.

He enlisted in the National Guard in October, 1993, and served until August, 1996.

In May, 1995, Jeremy graduated from Colfax High School, where he excelled in academics and track and field. He attended UW-Stout in Menomonie in 1995.

Jeremy enlisted in active duty in the U.S. Army as a Specialist (E4) in the 25th Infantry Division in August, 1996, at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. His accomplishments during this time are Ranger Tab, Air Assault Badge, Excellent Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar, Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Commendation Medal and Army Lapel Button. Military education included Military Operations and Urban Terrain CRS, Air Assault CRS, Ranger Indoctrination Program, Ranger CRS and Light Fighters Communication CRS.

During this time, Jeremy met Christine M. Tadeo in November, 1998, in Hawaii.

In August, 1999, he received a three year Green to Gold Scholarship to attend Hawaii Pacific University. In addition to his academics, he graduated from Airborne School (2000), Fort Benning, Ga., achieving the Parachutist Badge. He was also selected as top cadet of his class, Military Science II, to train with British Cadets in England (2000). In July, 2001, he completed U.S. Army ROTC Advanced Camp in Fort Lewis, Wash. This same summer, he completed Cadet Leadership Training (CTLT), Fort Bragg, NC.

He married Christine M. Tadeo on Feb. 1, 2002. They resided in Honolulu, Hawaii.

In May, 2002, he went from Green to Gold earning a Bachelor of Science and Business Administration Degree, Computer Information Systems from Hawaii Pacific University with honors (Cum Laude). He earned the George C. Marshall award and was Distinguished Honor Graduate of his ROTC Class. Jeremy attended the Rotary Wing Course and Officer Basic Course at Fort Rucker, Ala., from June 7 to Sept. 17, 2003. He was awarded the Army Aviation Badge.

His first duty station was in Fort Campbell, Ky., assigned to Alpha Company, 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment in August, 2003.

In October, 2003, 2LT Wolfe deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and served as Platoon Leader in Alpha Company, 101st Aviation Regiment, Tall Afar, Iraq. While flying a UH-60L helicopter transporting soldiers from Tall Afar to Mosul, he gave the ultimate sacrifice for what he believed in:

“It is an honor to serve in the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), the only Air Assault Division in the world! Contrary to the negative information that I see on the news everyday, what we are doing in Iraq is making a difference. The majority of the Iraqi people support what we are doing here. Everyone looks forward to coming home, but it is important that we follow through with our obligation to the Iraqi people and for our generations to follow so we do not have to return here in the future.” – Jeremy Lee Wolfe, November, 2000.

He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart.

Jeremy’s number one interest was family and friends. While dedicated to his career, he always found time to share his life with them. His passion was aviation. Other interests were scuba diving, running, shooting, coin collecting, movies, music, fishing, hunting, electronics, swimming — basically life itself. Everything he pursued he achieved, and at the highest level.

There are no words that can describe how much we love him and how much he will be missed.

Jeremy is survived by his wife, Christine Tadeo Wolfe, Fort Campbell, Ky.; father: David (Butch) L. Wolfe and Karen, Menomonie; mother, Jane S. Utpadel and stepfather Randy Utpadel, Wheeler; sister, Sharla Utpadel, son and daughter, Cara and Devon, Wheeler; grandmother, Goldie Wolfe, Menomonie; grandmother, Betty Utpadel, Menomonie; aunts and uncles, Sally (Wolfe) Reed, husband, Lloyd, daughter Cheyenne, Boyceville; Gloria (Cass) Keyes, husband, Jerry, children, Amy, Heather and Shari, Milwaukee; Lois (Cass) Oberle, husband, Greg, children, Damien and Derrick, Menomonie; Linda Utpadel, Menomonie; Todd Utpadel and wife, Pam, Downsville; Dave Utpadel, wife, Donna, children, Jared, Justin, Debbie, Becky and Danny, Menomonie; Gary Utpadel and Allison, children, Amanda and Elana, Seattle, Wa.; brothers-in-law, Ryan Tadeo, Dallas, Tex., and Noel Tadeo, Waipahu, Hawaii, Charlie Frink, Huntsville, Ala.; sisters-in-law, Lisa Tadeo, Waipahu, Hawaii, Kesvadee Frink and Gunhaa Frink, Huntsville, Ala.; father and stepmother-in-law, Reynaldo and Imelda Tadeo, Waipahu, Hawaii; mother and stepfather-in-law, Pranee and William Frink Jr., Huntsville, Ala.; grandfather and grandmother, Gaudencio and Nelly Tadeo, Honolulu, Hawaii; and 11 aunts and uncles, 12 cousins, and grandfather, Feliciano Dalisan, Phillipines.

He was preceded in death by grandfather, Clyde (Bud) Wolfe; grandfather, Ralph Utpadel; grandfather, Larry Cass; grandmother, Elaine Cass; great-grandmother, Violet Kolkind, and grandmother-in-law, Remedios Balani.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2003, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Menomonie with the Rev. Robert Friese officiating. Burial will be in St. John’s Cemetery, Town of Menomonie, Dunn County, with military honors by the Military Honor Guard from Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo.

Family will greet friends and relatives on Tuesday, Nov. 25, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Olson Funeral Home in Menomonie and on Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. until time of services at the church.

2nd Lt. Jeremy L. Wolfe wanted to go to Iraq to support his fellow troops, despite the escalating violence there. “He wanted to get over there to be with his friends and comrades”, said his father, David Wolfe. The 27-year-old from Menomonie, Wis., was killed Nov. 15 when two Black Hawk helicopters crashed in Mosul, Iraq. He was based at Fort Campbell, Ky. “My son was an officer and a gentleman. He believed in what he was doing and believed in his country. He will be missed dearly”, David Wolfe said. Wolfe, who joined the Army in 1996, also enjoyed his work. “He really liked to fly helicopters”, Kevin Wolfe said of his cousin. Survivors include his wife, Christine Tadeo.

Hundreds of mourners gathered at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Menomonie on Wednesday to pay tribute to 2nd Lt. Jeremy Wolfe, 27, killed when two Black Hawk helicopters crashed in Iraq.

Just before Wolfe’s burial at the rural St. John’s Cemetery in Dunn County, three Black Hawk helicopters flew overhead, and one veered off in tribute to the fallen soldier.

“He really enjoyed flying,” said Kevin Wolfe, Jeremy’s cousin. “That’s part of the background history of the Wolfe family. He really liked to fly helicopters.”

In an e-mail sent earlier this month, Wolfe indicated to his family how honored he was to serve in the 101st Airborne Division.

“Contrary to negative information that I see on the news every day, what we are doing in Iraq is making a difference,” he wrote. “The majority of the Iraqi people support what we are doing here.”

Family members said they anticipated a difficult Thanksgiving Day and had made no preparations for the holiday.

A graduate of Colfax High School, served with the 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, and had only been in Iraq about six weeks at the time of the crash. He joined the Army in 1996.

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