90 year old former Albion resident, Jewel Nadine Wolfe, passed away Friday
afternoon, January 24th, 2020 at Lavender Ridge Memory Care in Mt. Vernon, Illinois.
Nadine was born July 5, 1929 in rural Mt. Erie, Illinois to Irvin and Pauline (Crews)
Wolfe. She attended number 4 school until reaching high school and then moved to Albion
to live with her Aunt Ruby and Uncle Cash Hedrick. She graduated from Albion Community
High School in 1946. Upon graduation Nadine worked as a telephone operator. She
thoroughly enjoyed telling stories about the party lines of days gone by. Later she began
working as a secretary for SD Jarvis Oil Company and in 1955 Nadine, Jim France and
Tom Smith formed Saber Construction and Operating Company in Albion. The men had the
knowledge of the business but Nadine had saved her money and was able to supply the
capital necessary to begin this exciting business venture. Tom left the business shortly after
it was started and when Jim France passed away in 1974, Nadine bought out his share.
She became the sole owner of the Company in an era when there were very few women
running businesses much less owning an oilfield related business.
In 1977 Nadine took a gamble and took guardianship of a three year old little boy to
hopefully provide him with a better life. Rick and Nadine moved in to the old Albion
brickyard office which she had renovated in to a home in April of that year. Nadine officially
adopted Rick in March of 1978. He was the apple of her eye and her primary focus until the
arrival of Rick and Kelly’s two children, Allison and Andrew “Drew”, then of course, the role
of a doting grandmother was her number one job.
Nadine was a member of the First Christian Church in Albion and served a short
stint on the Edwards County School Board where she was involved in the decision to build
the new school. She was not an official member of many local boards or organizations, but
you could always find her swirling behind the scenes at every community event from the
fair, Albion Chowder, the Christmas parade and the dinner theaters. Her favorite task was
that of a fundraiser, because it was very hard to tell Nadine “no” when she asked for funds
for community events and she knew it!
Nadine dearly loved the people of Edwards County. She spent countless hours
cooking, baking and making candy to give to those in need as well as those that she just
wanted to feel loved. For her benevolence and community involvement she was given the
1990 Citizen of the Year award which she greatly appreciated. She was a trailblazer for
women and a great role model for anyone that wanted to make their own way. Independent,
strong and maybe even a little stubborn, she never gave up and always tried to make a
difference. She will be missed but the work she has done and the path she traveled will not
soon be forgotten.
Nadine is survived by her son Richard Wolfe and his wife, Kelly of Albion and her
precious grandchildren, Allison Jewel (age 19) and Andrew “Drew” (age 14) Wolfe of
Albion. Preceding Nadine in death were her parents and her sister, Marilyn Wolfe.
Private family burial services will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made in
memory of Nadine to the Albion Public Library and will be accepted at Nale’s Funeral Home
in Albion who are assisting the family. Online condolences may be left for the family at
www.nalesfuneralhome.com.