Monday, January 13, 2025
Barbara “Barb” Lorraine Volk, age 86, of Waupaca, passed into eternal life, surrounded by her loving family, on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
Born in Keswick, Iowa, to the late John and Maude (Henry) VanDee Kerkove. Barb was a proud 1956 valedictorian of Millersburg High
School.
On February 16, 1957, Barb married the love of her life, Maurice Eugene “Gene” Volk. Together, they built a life filled with love and laughter, moving to Wisconsin in 1979, where they raised six children and enjoyed 62 years of devotion to one another.
Family was the heart of Barb’s life, and she cherished her role as wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Barb lovingly raised her six children and extended that same care and kindness to many others in need, opening her heart and home to children who were not her own. Her home was always a welcoming place, filled with warmth, laughter, and the smell of delicious home-cooked meals. Every Sunday, she prepared large, homemade meals for her family, where they would gather after church to enjoy each other’s company and cheer on the Packers. Her famous homemade buns and gooey cinnamon rolls became cherished family traditions. Barb found great joy in tending to her garden, canning, and baking apple pies to freeze for the colder months with a glass of sweet iced tea or cup of coffee in her hands. She also enjoyed trips to the casino, making cross-stitch sweatshirts for her grandchildren, and attending their extracurricular events, always there to support and cheer them on with pride. A woman of incredible work ethic, Barb devoted 27 years as a licensed practical nurse at the Wisconsin Veterans Home in King, where her compassion and dedication touched the lives of many residents that she cared for. A natural-born caregiver, Barb’s unconditional love extended beyond her family to many others, including the animals on their farm, especially the sick calves Gene would bring home from the auction.
Barb’s legacy lives on in her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and all those whose lives she touched with her unconditional love, generosity, strength and devotion to her faith. She will be deeply missed but always remembered for the warmth, kindness, and joy she brought to everyone around her.
She will be deeply missed and is survived by her loving family; children: Eugene Volk, Theresa Turzinski, Michelle (Ron) Bowden, Leanne (Daniel) Turzinski, Robert (Debra) Volk, Brian Volk; 15 grandchildren; 24 great grandchildren; 4 great-great grandchildren; one sister, many nieces, nephews, neighbors, and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Maurice Eugene “Gene” Volk, her parents, and four brothers.
The celebration of Barbara’s life will be held on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church, located at N2845 Shadow Rd, Waupaca. A visitation will take place prior to the Mass, from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m., followed by a rosary service until the time of the funeral Mass at 11am. A luncheon will be served after Mass.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Whispering Pines Assisted Living activity center in Barb’s name, where Barb loved to participate in various activities and events.
The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Whispering Pines for the exceptional care and compassion they provided to Barb over the past several years, and to the St. Croix Hospice team for their support and care during this time.
Maple Crest Funeral Home in Waupaca is honored to assist the family with arrangements.
