Daniel Funeral Home & Cremation Service

Leslie C. "Buddy" Wolff

April 11, 1941 – July 11, 2017

Memorial services celebrating the life of Leslie C. “Buddy” Wolff, 76, of Hackensack and formerly of St. Cloud will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 23, 2017 at the Daniel Funeral Home Chapel in St. Cloud with visitation beginning at 4:00 p.m. During the service the family invites friends to share their personal remembrances of Les. On Tuesday, July 11, 2017 Les passed away with family by his side after battling with Dementia. Les embraced the research done by Boston University in the area of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and chose to donate tissue for their research on chronic brain damage from concussions.
Les was born on April 11, 1941 at home in Blue Earth, Minnesota to William and Lucille (Zutz) Wolff. As a child the family moved to the Kimball area where he started elementary school. They moved to Waite Park in the early 1950s where he attended McKinley Elementary and graduated from Technical High School in 1959. Les married Norma Nahan on April 29, 1961 in St. Cloud and together they raised two daughters. He always worked hard and as a young father and husband channeled his ingenuity into building the family’s first home on his own, which is located on the point at Little Rock Lake, where it still stands today.
He was employed at DeZurik’s prior to attending St. Cloud State in 1962. Les joined the St. Cloud State College wrestling team while in college and in 2004 was inducted into the Husky Hall of Fame along with his 1963 Wrestling Team. Les also played for and was team co-captain for the St. Cloud State Husky’s Football Team. He graduated from St. Cloud State College in 1967 with a degree in Physical Education. He was then scouted to play defensive end for the Norfolk Neptunes Football Team, part of the Continental Football League. He played for the Neptunes for two years as well as taught and coached at Norview High School in Norfolk, VA. He received Rookie of Year and Most Valuable Player Awards while playing for the Neptunes.
After finishing with the Neptunes, Les entered the world of Professional Wrestling, beginning his career in North Carolina. Following two years in North Carolina, Les moved to Minnesota, becoming part of the American Wrestling Association (AWA). Following Minnesota, he wrestled in the Texas Region for a period of time, eventually selecting the moniker of Beautiful Buddy Wolff, for which he is best known. Les and his family eventually returned to Minnesota and to wrestling for the AWA. One of his most notable matches and sources of pride was his exhibition match in 1976 against Muhammed Ali in Chicago. Les also travelled internationally as part of his career in the 1970s. Additional highlights in his career included wrestling at Madison Square Garden and holding the title of NWA Heavy Weight Champion in Florida. Les wrestled until 1988 and then began a career as a business owner, entrepreneur and inventor.
Les realized his dream of owning a lake home in northern Minnesota and moving to “God’s Country.” He moved to Hackensack in 1981, where he designed and helped build his dream home. From his lake home he oversaw his retail shirt shops and also started Budro’s Pizza in Hackensack. Les was a thinker and observer and was always coming up with ideas to improve or invent products used in industry or for personal use. He developed the Total Tone exercise machine, Tummy Twister and patents in the screen printing industry. His pride and joy was the Banner Saver Pro 2000 banner bracket which was distributed worldwide. The Banner Saver Pro 2000 bracket was prominently used at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Les eventually semi-retired to spend time enjoying Stony Lake and his loyal dog Bupsie.
Les is survived by his daughters, Ann Wolff of Rice; Lisa (Scott) Clausen of Cambridge; grandchildren, Aaron Lott, Ava Wolff and Alexa Clausen; former spouses, Norma Wolff of St. Cloud; LeAnn Snyder of Hackensack; brothers, Robert (Mona) of Hackensack, David (Nancy) of White Bear; sisters, MaryAnn Wolff of Hutchinson, Diane Pieper of St. Cloud, Pamela Wolff of Beaux Bridge, Louisiana; and his beloved dog Bupsie.
He was preceded in death by his parents and former spouse, Diane (Vivian) Vachon.
Memorials are preferred.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Wolfe


Guestbook

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RIP Buddy!!!

Les Wolff was one of of my wrestling coaches at Norview High School in Norfolk in 1967-68 or so. I remember going to see him wrestle in Norfolk. I had no idea he had been fighting dementia. I have thought of him many times over the years. What a nice man he was. My condolences to the family.

david and family you have our deepest sympathy.your family has been near us in waite park as next door to lucy.

I used to watch Buddy wrestle on tv with my grandparents.We were all big fans. May he rest in peace

Watched BEAUTIFUL BUDDY WOLFF both in Texas and Minn and it was always a highlight match. God bless the family of a great man

Les was one of the best workers in every major territory where he worked. He main eventented everyplace, and rightfully so.

There is a song, written by Paul Anka,that makes me think of my brother,Les. That song…My Way…was sung most notably by Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley. I encourage everyone who is thinking of Les at this time to go to YouTube, listen to the words in the song. Then try to read those lyrics. The tears in my eyes prevented me from reading them so I closed my eyes and listened to the Frank Sinatra version again. Les definitely moved to the beat of a different drum and did things his way.
While he was a performer, I think his most notable accomplishment was that of a mechanical engineer and artist. He didn’t need an engineering degree from MIT. He graduated from the school of hard knocks. With his power of observation and imagination, he created amazing tools, gadgets and art.
When a person makes something nobody else has made it’s called being creative. When it is pleasing to the eye it is called art. Les was much more than a wrestler…he was a creative artist. RIP

From the early 1970’s on, I knew Buddy Wolff as one of the best and most underrated professional wrestlers of his era. I started following his career in the late 1960’s when he was wrestling as Les Wolff in the Carolina’s as a fan favorite. In the early 70’s when he came home to Minnesota, he wrestled often in the Minneapolis territory and also in Omaha. It was here that he became “Buddy” Wolff and in 1972 began teaming with fellow St. Cloud grad Larry Heiniemi (who at times wrestled as Lars Anderson). Together they were a team that often worked before the main events on cards, but there was never any doubt of their finesse as a tag team. During their run they had a long program against Wahoo McDaniel that were main events all the AWA. In 1976 Buddy had the honor to work an exhibition against boxing champion Muhammad Ali in Chicago. In Madison Square Garden in New York, Buddy also challenged for the WWWF title against then champion Pedro Morales and he also held the Florida Heavyweight title during a run there in 1977. I had the chance to meet and talk with Buddy several times at a Cauliflower Alley Club reunion back in the early 2000’s and he was one of the most soft spoken and nice guys ever. I’m saddened for his passing, but thank him for his contribution to wrestling and his devotion to his family. May he rest in peace with the Lord.

Les will be missed by all who knew him. We have many fond memories of times spent with him. Our Deepest Sympathy to the family.

My grandfather was my best friend growing up; he always taught me to be strong and to be confident in myself. I will miss him everyday. The memories of him going on rides with me at Walt Disney world, him comforting me because of was scared of his basement and when we’d go fishing off the dock at his home… these memories I now hold to me closer than ever before, because they’re the only things plus a few pictures is what I have left of him… but none of these things make up for what he was as a man and as my grandfather… I miss him so much part of my soul went with him.. everyday is unknown for me sometimes they are better days and some that are worse… but he is never too far from my thoughts no matter what the day..
Grandpa I miss you, and I love you..

How fortunate I was to have had Les in my life and even when distance separated us, we remained friends and always cared and loved each other. He was a big man with a big and loving heart and very special soul. With that big heart, Ann and Lisa, he loved you so much. Hold tight to the good, sweet memories. Rest in peace my special friend. Forever loved and never forgotten.

I miss my Daddy – I will miss him often and forever.
He was my hero, a mentor, a friend and my protector. If I asked he would be there for me, for us.
While there were lows and highs throughout his lifetime (we all have those) he always worked hard and persevered.
He had an amazing mind and was always thinking. He could visualize and conceptualize three dimensionally which just amazed me.
He was a gregarious guy and tended to be a great deal of fun, but was also comfortable to be alone with his thoughts and his skillful hands.

We have lost a good man, a gentle soul.

Watch over us Daddy xoxo

Lisa

Services

Schedule Details

Memorial services celebrating the life of Leslie C. “Buddy” Wolff, 76, of Hackensack and formerly of St. Cloud will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 23, 2017 at the Daniel Funeral Home Chapel in St. Cloud with visitation beginning at 4:00 p.m. During the service the family invites friends to share their personal remembrances of Les. On Tuesday, July 11, 2017 Les passed away with family by his side after battling with Dementia. Les embraced the research done by Boston University in the area of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and chose to donate tissue for their research on chronic brain damage from concussions.