Barn Blast 9/16/11 – Remembering Our Friend, Marion Wolfe

Wedding Gown made of German Silk Parachute

Marion Wolfe was a founding member of the Wisconsin Quilt History Project, the predecessor to the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts. Marion applied her great organizational and interpersonal skills to lead our documentation days, to produce our first quilt history book, and to spearhead our efforts to turn the Hoffmann-Boeker farm into our new museum home.

Our current exhibit contains many of Marion’s works, including the wedding gown she made out of the German silk parachute her fiancé brought back from World War II. Her beautiful hand-pieced, hand-quilted white-on-white quilt is also on display at the museum. Marion died in 2007, but her vision, energy and devotion to our museum live on in hour hearts.

“My mom shared her quilting knowledge with me,” says Anne Wolfe King, Marion’s daughter. “When I had toddlers at home, I discovered quilting. When Mom explained to me about having a stash of fabric, I said, ‘I’ll never have a stash. Who would collect fabric for no particular reason?’ I now have a stash, of course, which also grew after touring the fabrics in my mom’s closet on each of my visits to Milwaukee.”

“Let me sum up my mom’s love for the museum project with a story. After she had knee replacement surgery, she was required to spend two weeks at an interim health care facility before going home. I was there when she was getting settled in. A health care worker came to her room ready to make my mom’s stay homey. Here’s how the conversation went:

Worker: “Hi Mrs. Wolfe. I’ve got some questions to ask you to make your stay more comfortable.”

My mom was sitting up in the bed while I unpacked her things.

Worker: “Mrs. Wolfe, would you like to have music in your room?”

Marion: “No thank you.”

Worker: Would you like to have a newspaper in the morning?”

Marion: “OK”

Worker: “Would you like to have a TV in your room?”

Marion; “No, thanks.”

Worker: “Would you like to have a deck of cards?”

Marion: “No.”

Worker: “Would you like to visit our social living room?”

Marion: “No.”

Worker: “Would you like to participate in our dinner groups?”

Marion: “No.’

Worker: (Somewhat frustrated that maybe my mom didn’t like to do anything) “Mrs. Wolfe, what is it that you do all day when you are at home?”

Marion: (Without missing a beat) “I’m trying to raise a million dollars to build a quilt museum. Would you like to donate?”

“I just smiled.”