Herbert Henry Wolke

“In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count.  It’s the life in your years.”  ~  Abe Lincoln

Herbert Henry Wolke, best known to his friends as Herb, passed away quietly in his sleep the morning of Thursday, December 17th at RiverWoods, in Lewisburg.  It was a peaceful end following weeks of struggle, fighting pneumonia.  Mentally sharp right up to the finish, his body finally could no longer keep up.

Born in Jersey City, NJ on January 14, 1928 to Otto and Margaret Wolke nee Buchmann, he was the oldest of seven children, six boys and one girl (Henry, Margaret, Otto, Fred, Robert, and Ernest).  As a boy, Herb worked every day with his dad, delivering milk before he set off for school.  He grew up loving sports, especially playing baseball with his friends.

Upon the recommendation of a local sports writer, Herb earned an invitation to try out for the New York Giants baseball team (he never forgave them for moving to San Francisco).  He headed to Lakewood, NJ for spring training in 1944, where legendary manager/player Mel Ott, encouraged him.  Movietone News filmed spring training that year, and one evening the players all went to the local cinema to see themselves on the big screen.  When Herb’s face flashed on the screen, legend has it that Mel Ott screamed out in the darkened theatre, “Hey Herb, there you are !”

If you knew Herb Wolke, you knew his admiration and respect for Abraham Lincoln.  It began when he starred in the show, “A Man From Illinois” at the Plays in the Park in Edison, NJ.  A long-time summer stock, amateur theatre buff, he performed in, or directed dozens of plays beginning with a local company he co-founded in his hometown called the “StageCrafters”, and continued on in other companies such as his beloved Villagers Barn Theatre.

While recuperating from a car accident, he was encouraged to write a one-man play about his hero, and he crafted, “For the People:  A Visit With Abraham Lincoln”.  A YouTube video can be found online of a performance he gave at the Irvington (NY) Town Hall, which Herb found ironic that it was designed by the same man that designed the Ford Theatre in Washington, DC.  He loved knowing that the number of views online steadily increased, not because of vanity, but because he thought that everyone should know of Lincoln’s words.

Herb worked a large portion of his adult life at a brokerage firm in the Wall Street district of New York City as a back office manager.  He also worked in the corporate offices of the U.S. Postal Service as the head of supplies for offices east of the Mississippi, and then enjoyed his time working for hearing aide centers in Allenhurst and Asbury Park, NJ.  However, he was probably most proud of the work he put into maintaining his sobriety for over thirty years.

Herb instilled in his children the sense of wanderlust, taking them on many vacations, from flying to California and Florida, to going to both the New York and Montreal World Fairs.  Driving to St. Louis to drop oldest son Michael at college doubled as a vacation, where the family stayed on a working farm.  Another farm vacation was a trip to upstate New York at the headwaters of the Delaware River.  There always seemed to be an endless supply of new adventures from big city visits to relaxing time at the Jersey shore.

He tested his devotion for his beloved New York Rangers for decades.  A favorite pastime was talking on the phone with his sons about the Rangers, or New York Mets, giving them their passions for sports.  He often took the children to Shea Stadium, or to Madison Square Garden.  He loved trying to explain the way that we tell what teams will triumph within.  He was great with giving lessons about the game of sports, or the game of life.

Jazz was one of Herb’s true pleasures often attending live “Jersey Jazz” events all over the state.  He had a record collection of 78s that included Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Lionel Hampton, and Louie Armstrong.  He loved Frank Sinatra and adored Lena Horne.  He served on the board of the Jersey Jazz Society and remained a lifelong member.

Herbert Wolke married Veronica “Roni” Stepkovich in 1952 in Jersey City, NJ.  Roni made it a condition that the children would be baptized and raised in her Catholic faith.  Herb was a life-long member of the Lutheran faith, and was dismayed when his own church in East Brunswick broke away to join the Missouri Synod splinter group.  They divorced in 1981, and Veronica later passed away in 2013.

Herb has two surviving brothers, Otto and Ernie, each with long-time wives, and many beloved nieces, nephews, in-laws, and Godchildren.  Herb was estranged from his second wife, Marion Jocelyn of Matawan, NJ.

Herb and Roni had six children and they raised them primarily in the newly expanded commuter town of Spotswood, NJ.  Their second child, Stephen died after a month from a heart defect.  Youngest son Martin died in 2008 at 47 years old.  Surviving children include Michael, Laura, Thomas, Marienne, and son-in-law Richard Gallagher.  He had four grandchildren, Christopher, Lisa, Sonja, and Anna.  Lisa and her husband Joshua Balog, gave him two great-grandchildren, Emily and Maxine.

A Memorial Service will be celebrated Monday 3pm, December 28th at Faith Lutheran Church, 2349 Old Turnpike Rd., Lewisburg, PA.  Immediately following the services, the family will accept visitors in the church’s Fellowship Hall.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Herbert Wolke’s name to the New Jersey Jazz Society (don@lksassociates.com), the Gettysburg Foundation (717) 338-1243), or the Diabetes Action Research & Education Foundation (202-333-4520).

“Everyone desires to live long, but no one would be old.”  ~  Abraham Lincoln