JEFFERSON, Iowa – After over 43 years serving members of our local communities, Public Health Director, Becky Wolf, retires at the end of 2024. Though she has seen many changes, both in technology and medical advancements, she is most proud of her Team, the programs they have spearheaded and the way they truly care. “I can’t say enough about how amazing our Public Health staff are,” she said. “They genuinely strive to make a difference and meet the needs of those we serve, whether coordinating medical transportation, providing immunizations or supporting parents with young families. It especially warms my heart to watch our staff prep for community events and then interact with the public.”
In 1981, Wolf began her Greene County Medical Center career as a floor nurse, working her way up to house supervisor and caring for patients in Intensive Care, Emergency, Obstetrics and Acute. In 1988 she shifted to working at Greene County Public Health with local schools and then as a home care nurse, wearing many different hats before being named Director in 2013.
She and her staff immediately went to work on becoming even more involved in our communities and developing new programs to meet their needs. “I am proud of how we have been able to foster a local public health agency that is visible and well-respected for the work we do,” she said. “Today, we can all confidently say that Public Health is wherever you are!”
Probably the biggest win in programing for Wolf is the Healthy Rides program. “We noticed in our 2015/2016 Health Needs Assessment that people identified a need for medical transportation.” Wolf’s Team submitted a grant application to Grow Greene County for assistance. “They funded $40,000 for us to purchase an SUV,” Wolf said. “Since then, Healthy Rides has been extremely popular, helping Greene County residents get to medical appointments with their providers. It has also helped ensure they are receiving the proper level of care, which keeps costs down for everyone.” As Healthy Rides continues to grow, Wolf said their biggest challenge is in ensuring they have a ready supply of volunteer drivers. She encourages anyone interested in driving to contact Public Health at 386-3228 to apply.
Wolf’s successor, Shelby Cooklin, RN, is a Greene County native and someone who made a big impression on Wolf, even before she came to Public Health two years ago as the child-adolescent health coordinator. “Shelby ‘gets’ Public Health nursing,” Wolf said. “After just a few months, she expressed a career goal of becoming the next Director. She has strong critical thinking skills, adapts easily to change and has the ability to think through processes to find realistic solutions. Shelby has confidence in working with our community partners and the public.”
Cooklin officially took on the role in October, working closely with Wolf to learn the responsibilities prior to the year-end transition. Wolf added she is grateful to Greene County Medical Center leadership for helping with this change and for being forward thinking while also fostering a culture of caring for patients and employees.
Wolf and her husband Dave live on a farm north of Scranton. They have three married children and five grandchildren: Julie and Ross Tuel of Pella and their son Caiden; Christie and Mike Pope of Scranton and their children Breanna, Tyler and Cody; and David and Megan Wolf of Scranton and their son Jadon. In retirement, she is looking forward to spending time with grandchildren, helping more on the farm and doing some traveling. And even though she may no longer have a physical presence at Greene County Public Health, she will always be their biggest cheerleader, leaving them with a favorite quote from Lewis Carroll that she believes sums up their calling; “One of the deepest secrets of life is that all that is really worth the doing is what we do for others.”