Robert Dean “Bob” Wolfe, 85, of Austin, Minn., died Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012, at Field Crest Care Center in Hayfield.

Bob was born Nov. 11, 1926, in Austin. He grew up in Austin and attended Austin High School. He had to leave school to start working, and eventually started working for Hormel Foods in the Austin Plant office. On July 2, 1949, he was united in marriage to Shirley C. Haffner at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Austin.

In the late 1970s, Bob went back to school and received his GED diploma. He was very proud of this accomplishment. He retired from Hormel Foods in January 1993, with 47 1/2 years of service and was very proud of being an employee there.

Bob was a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church. He was also a social member of the American Legion and the Senior Citizen Center. Bob was a very kind and caring person and had the patience of a saint. When he experienced difficulties in his life, he dealt with them with a positive attitude and always worried about others before himself. The staff at Field Crest called him their “little ray of sunshine.” He will be truly missed by everyone.

Survivors include his son, Donald Wolfe, Austin; his daughter, Mary Jo Wolfe, Austin; sister-in-law, Dorothy Elward, Fremont, Calif.; nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Shirley, on Aug. 1, 2012; brothers-in-law, Donald Haffner, Donald Elward; half brother, Kingsley Crampton; daughter-in-law, Sue Wolfe.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, at St. Augustine Catholic Church with Father Jim Steffes officiating. There will be a 4:30 p.m. wake service on Friday at Mayer Funeral Home where friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. and also one hour before the service at the church on Saturday. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery.