Obituary of Brian Carl Wolfe

Brian Carl Wolfe came into the world February 8, 1948, in Albert Lea, the second of 5 children born to Gordon and Audrey Engelhart Wolfe of Kiester. From a young age, Brian was creatively talented - whether playing piano, organ, and French horn, ice skating, showing horses or 4-H dairy cows, and turning out landscaping and antique refinishing projects. He performed in State high school speech and solo instrumental music contests, and was elected to National Honor Society, All State Band, and Boys State. 

After a summer camp at Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, Brian graduated from high school there, playing French horn and learning all instruments of the orchestra. He was thrilled to tour with the Interlochen Orchestra, including a performance in Carnegie Hall with Van Cliburn, under the conductorship of Leonard Bernstein. Attending Northwestern University in Illinois, he was a member of the orchestra and marching band.  

Brian met equally-talented Pamela Berglund from Scandia, MN, when both were 4-H dorm counselors at the State Fair, and they married in 1969.  Brian worked at the MN Capitol Chief Clerk’s Office, and Pam was an Osseo phy ed teacher and summer lifeguard and swim instructor.  After moving to Weston, CT, they lived in an estate carriage house, then bought and remodeled a woodsy cottage. Brian filled their home with refinished antiques, and family and cousins who visited were treated to multi-course gourmet meals and trips into NYC for Broadway plays, celebrity sightings, Chinatown dim sum, and Grand Central Station’s Oyster Bar. Pam was Norwalk CT High School girls’ athletic director until her death from a car accident in 1981.

Brian worked in all aspects of the restaurant business. He helped establish (and name) several small seafood restaurants, including the Shell Station in Stratford, CT, and Oysters Too in Newport, Rhode Island during World Cup Sailing regattas. During a Newport promotional event, he was honored to cook alongside visiting celebrity chef Jacque Pepin. Later summers were at a restaurant in East Hampton, Long Island. For a time, Brian took up running and was in a Boston Marathon “back of the pack”.     

Brian’s life was deeply affected by his wife’s death and a major bridge outage disrupting his restaurant commute. At times, he lost touch with the Midwest, but would then show up for surprise visits at airports, a family Red Wing St. James Hotel Christmas, and his grandma Palma Engelhart’s 90th birthday celebration, where he accompanied grandchildren singing “Edelweiss”. Brian spent days at his dad’s Mayo bedside after a 1974 heart attack, and returned to MN in 2000 to care for his elderly mother the last years of her life. He made sure his mom always had good meals, classical MPR background music, and a hummingbird feeder on her lakeside deck.  

After his mother’s death in 2002, Brian continued life in Albert Lea, where he was employed at Family Treasures estate sales and Addie’s Floral.  He was on the board of Albert Lea Civic Music Association and was a big supporter of high school music and sports. He mentored foster son Eric Beck through high school and college track and provided transportation and moving help to local elderly. Rounds of Twin Cities antiquing, restaurants, and concerts provided respites.  

Undiagnosed high blood pressure and hole in his heart prompted a bleeding-brain stroke in 2016, and Brian spent the last 8 years of his life in Faribault Emeralds nursing care. It was difficult gradually losing mobility and the surroundings of his treasured antique collections. But he watched CNN, followed news of family and friends, and maintained his cynical sense of humor. He enjoyed reading anything about his beloved Hamptons, Cape Cod, NYC, antiques, famous chefs, restaurants, musicians, the Kennedys, and Ireland.  Brian’s spirits were gratefully lifted many times by lunches and wonderful visits of close friends and cousins. 

Brian was preceded in death by wife Pamela Berglund Wolfe, parents Gordon and Audrey, and brother Neal Wolfe.  He is survived by foster son Eric (Jennifer) Beck and their 2 sons of Brainerd, brother Kenton (Mary) Wolfe of Wilsonville, OR, sisters Melody (Lad) Sledz of Edina, and Charity James of Medford, OR.  Also aunt and uncle Kerwin and Doris Engelhart, Rochester, nieces Kari (Doug) Gastich and Kelly (Bob) Looney of Lake Oswego, OR, nephew Michael James (Patty Pizarro) of Bend, OR, 9 grand-nieces and nephews, and many cousins and friends.

A Celebration of Life Open House will be held at Pinstripes 2nd Floor, 3849 Gallagher Drive, Edina, MN, adjacent parking ramp available,on Sunday November 17, 2024, from 12:00 to 4:00. We will have a brief Program of Tributes from 1:00 - 1:30PM. 

Any memorials will be directed to Brian’s foster son Eric Beck’s family.