Amy J. Wolff

Amy Joanne (Eckholt) Wolff, 43, of Clear Lake, died Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014, at the Mercy Hospital, Des Moines, Iowa.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014, at the First Congregational Church, Clear Lake, with the Rev. Brian Harris officiating.  Burial was in the Clear Lake Cemetery.  Family suggests memorials to National Kidney Foundation.

Amy entered this life at a tiny four pounds, three ounces, the first born to Gary and Bev (Snyders) Eckholt on Aug. 21, 1971, in Sioux Falls, S.D.  At the age of eight, Amy was diagnosed with chronic inflammation of the kidneys and received her first transplant at the age of 18. After having two kidney transplants, Amy has spent the past seven years on dialysis.

Amy grew up in Iowa and graduated from Linn-Marr High School in 1989. She attended and graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology in 1995. She then accepted a job with Opportunity Village, in Clear Lake, where she held various positions until leaving in 2012 due to health issues.

Amy was united in marriage to Matthew Wolff on June 12, 2004, at the First Congregational Church, Clear Lake.  In 2013 she earned her real estate license and worked with Matt at Lake-Iowa Realty until her death.

  The roles she played in her careers reflected her compassion, commitment, and dedication to others.  

Amy greatly enjoyed cooking and baking, often dreaming up new creations and rarely following a recipe. Spending time with family and friends was important to Amy. She had a passion for planning a party. She and Matt would host an annual anniversary celebration – each with a new and exciting theme. Other hobbies included crocheting, where she would design and create a variety of items to give as gifts. She also had a love of music – all music. It wasn’t always the style of music, but often the lyrics that spoke to her. Even after the age of 40, Amy became a new member of the Metallica fan club. She especially enjoyed a recent concert at the Surf Ballroom where she was able to meet the band Queensryche.

Amy had a contagious smile that would light up a room. Many people would comment about her lively and positive attitude. Amy had adopted a motto and truly lived her life following the words: “Life may not be the party we hoped for…but while we are here we should dance.”

Those left to cherish in Amy include her husband, Matt, of Clear Lake; their dogs, Archie and Fritz; parents, Gary Eckholt of Clear Lake, and Bev Eckholt, of Savannah, Ga.; siblings, Nathaniel Eckholt, of Ames, Iowa, Andrew Eckholt, of Mason City, Iowa, Alyssa Eckholt, of Ankeny, Iowa, and Leah Eckholt, of Ankeny; parents in-law, Robert and Karen Wolff, of Clear Lake; sister in-law, Katie (Chris) Stevenson, of Atlanta, Ga.; nephew and niece, Benjamin and Sophia Stevenson, of Atlanta, Ga.; godson, Chase Rose, of Clear Lake; goddaughter, Anna Starrett, of Clear Lake; and a host of family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Paul and Joan Snyders; paternal grandmother, Ann Eckholt; and an uncle, Jeff Eckholt.

Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.