Phillip S. "Phil" Wulff Sr.

 Phillip Sheridan Wulff Sr. age 82, long time resident of Emmett, Idaho died January 8th, 2021 at the home of his daughter in Eagle, Idaho surrounded by a few of those who loved him. He always referred to his birthdate 6/6/38 as “the first two numbers are my height and the last two my age.”
 Phillip was born at home in the small town of Bryant, South Dakota and he grew up in the Midwest where he married Susan Langenfeld in 1963 and together they built a life of happiness and hardship as they had six children, the first of whom died shortly after birth.

 Phillip had a love for education, graduating from high school in Watertown, South Dakota. He furthered his education and graduated from South Dakota State University with a Master’s Degree in Counseling and Guidance. The conclusion of his education did not stop at the doors of the University as he continued his love of learning through books and built quite a home library of self-help and religious books which was later donated to help those in greatest need. A great lover of a captive listener, he would often start reading aloud when anyone entered the room and could enduringly outlast any audience.
 After high school, Phillip served honorably as a Corporal in the United States Marine Corps from 1960 to 1963 as a drill sergeant and shooting instructor. He could spot a fellow Marine anywhere and would shout out a bold “Semper Fi!” to them.
 Phillip was not one to stay in one place. After growing up in the Midwest, he and Susan gathered their then three children in the VW Bus and headed out West. He pursued his career taking the family to live in Kaiser, OR; San Diego, CA; Sutherlin, OR; Santa Fe, NM; Eagle River, AK and Sacramento, CA before settling for the past 25+ years in Emmett, ID.
 His career path took him from a guidance counselor for the Bureau of Indian Affairs to vocational rehabilitation specialist to eventually an organizational development specialist for the Bureau of Land Management where he retired after 30 years of service. His love of work was in helping other’s solve problems and come up with solutions.
 Reading wasn’t his only passion. Singing held his heart as his greatest love. He could often be found singing “Oh Danny Boy” in the local grocery store, assisted living and anywhere else around town he could hold a captive hostage.
 A lover of garage sales, he was frugal in ways that leave his family laughing but somehow he could never pass up another man’s trash to hold as his treasure. He built an inheritance of treasures that to his remaining family defied all words. 
 Other than in front of an audience, some of his happy places were dessert time with his family. Before he finished chewing his last bite of dinner he would say “what’s for dessert?” He also loved being out in the field plowing to plant a crop of alfalfa proudly perched on his tractor, “Big Blue” or out in his “shop” polishing and fixing up his woodworking tools.
 He was a man of faith and served in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints until disease took his capacity to do so. He loved his family dearly and as a man of faith he prayed for them every day.
 Phillip is preceded in death by his dear wife, Susan and daughter, Stephanie. He is honored in passing by his children Phillip Wulff Jr., Jennifer (Wade) Woodard, Annie (Matt) Weiss, Gretchen (Mark) Reynolds, Chris (Tina) Wulff; 13 grandchildren; sister, JoElaine Summers and faithful dog, Gus.

Services will be held Monday, January 11, 2021 at the Potter Funeral Chapel of Emmett.  Viewing will be from 10:00 - 10:50 with the funeral services starting at 11:00 AM.  Burial will follow at the Emmett Cemetery where the United States Marine Corps Honor Guard will perform military honors.

Live streamed services will be viewable on this page down below.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Phillip S. "Phil" Wulff Sr., please visit our floral store.