voler obit

Lloyd Volker, 92, Barrett, died Sunday, Jan. 9, 2011, at Johnson’s Adult Care Home, rural Barrett. Funeral services for Lloyd Volker will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 14, 2011, at Peace Lutheran Church, Barrett, with the Rev. Matthew Rose officiating. Burial will be at Lakeside Cemetery, Herman. Visitation is Thursday from 4-7 p.m. at the Erickson-Smith Funeral Home in Hoffman and resumes one hour before the service at the church.

Lloyd Fredrick Volker was born on May 27, 1918, in Delaware Township, Grant County, Minnesota, the son of William and Zena (DeVries) Volker.

After his schooling, Lloyd worked for Ralph Sheets and various farmers milking cows. On March 27, 1941, at the age of 23, Lloyd enlisted in the United States Army, trained at Fort Meade, South Dakota, and was assigned to A Troop 4th Calvary with horses. The name of dad’s horse was, “Minnesota.” Later on when the horses were replaced, they let them loose and they ran free. The outfit then became C Troop Mechanized. After his training, he left from New York on a ship called “Highland Chief” en route to England. This ship was a meat hauler, and the soldiers hung their hammocks from meat hangers. The trip took 21 days and there wasn’t much to do except ‘hang on’. Sometimes their dinner plates would slide away from them. Lloyd was stationed in England four to five months, maybe longer. His duties while there were to drive an armored car, and his rankings ranged from Private, Private First Class, and when discharged he held the rank of Sergeant.

While serving overseas, Lloyd was stationed in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe. He received various medals: European, African, Middle Eastern Theatre Service, American Defense Service, and the Bronze Star. Lloyd left Europe in October 1945, departing from France or Belgium. It took him a week to return to New York from where he rode a train to Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, and was discharged from the military on October 31, 1945.

After military life, Lloyd attended Herman Agriculture School for Veterans. The Veterans were paid a certain amount of money for attending school one to two days a week for a six month period of time. He also worked for Jordahl Billboard Company with Ray Fabian putting up billboard signs and with Clarence Andrews and Everett Weiseman doing jobs such as painting and carpentry. Now we understand why he was so handy around the house and farm, always being able to ‘fix’ anything.

On Dec. 17, 1946, he was united in marriage to Nancy (Ritzschke) Volker, and together they raised nine children.

Lloyd and Nancy farmed east of Herman on the Jordahl farm from 1950-1966. In 1966, Lloyd purchased his own 160-acre farm and rented additional land. He “sold the cows” in 1974 and retired from farming in 1977. Lloyd still owns his farm today. In October 1985, Lloyd and Nancy retired and moved to Barrett Lake, where Lloyd resided until Dec. 27, when he went to live at the Johnson’s Adult Care Home. Nancy passed away on Oct. 18, 1992.

Lloyd is survived by his son Glenn Heins and wife Dolly of Nampa, Idaho, son Wally Heins and wife Dot of Goodview, Va., son Mike and wife Gretchen of Woodbridge, Va., son Terry and wife Maureen of Barrett, son Jeff and wife Brenda of Morris, son Bill and wife Darlene of Herman, daughter Pat and husband Eddie Dummer of Alexandria, daughter Brenda and husband Tim Itzen of Clewiston, Fla., and son Kevin and wife Nancy of Herman; 26 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren; brother Bernard (Lenora) Volker, sisters-in-law Sylvia Volker and Ardith Ritzschke, all of Herman, and brother-in-law Hans Allen of Barrett; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife Nancy, brothers Ervin and Willard Volker, sisters Betty Allen and Sophia Berger (husband Paul Berger), his parents William and Zena Volker, grandsons Freddy Heins, Brian Heins, and infant baby Heins, and great-granddaughter Nora Jane Volker.

Memorials may be directed to Lakeland Hospice or the Herman American Legion.

Arrangements are with the Erickson-Smith Funeral Home in Hoffman. Condolences may be sent on line to www.EricksonSmithFH.com