Visitation will be on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Sturm Funeral Home, Sleepy Eye Chapel.
His funeral service will be Thursday, July 27 at 11:00 am at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Sleepy Eye with visitation one hour prior to service from 10:00 am – 11:00 am. The clergy will be Pastor Nathanael Mayhew. Interment will be at the Home Cemetery in Sleepy Eye.
Arrangements are with Sturm Funeral Home in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.
Paul William Volker was born on September 7, 1940, to William F. Volker and Grace (Schwint) Volker in Sleepy Eye, MN. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church. He was raised and received his education in Sleepy Eye, MN, graduating from Sleepy Eye High School in 1958, where he was active in sports. After graduation he attended MSU Mankato and served in the US Navy. He was later employed by Schwartz and Popken Furniture, Del Monte, Brown County Coop, and Independent School District #84 – Sleepy Eye. On March 29, 1968, he married Jeanne (Schiller) Lowinski in Sleepy Eye and became a step-dad to Jeanne’s four girls (Jeri, Deb, Margie, Connie). Together, Paul and Jeanne had two daughters, Brenda and Bobbie Jo. Paul and Jeanne enjoyed their house full of girls attending all of their sporting events and activities. With a nickname for Jeanne and the girls, there was never a dull moment.
Paul was a member of Grace Lutheran Church serving as a church committee member, charter member, head usher and financial secretary. In his free time, he enjoyed trips to Jackpot Junction Casino, fishing, hunting, and working on classic and muscle cars (corvettes and trucks). He enjoyed working the meat raffle at the Serviceman’s Club; cooking and trying out new and unique recipes; pickling asparagus, beets, beans, boiled eggs; and making his trademark oyster crackers. He shared all of these things with his family and friends at the Club. Paul was a social person and could be seen riding his bike around Sleepy Eye, visiting with people along the way. He picked on everyone he came in contact with and was full of wit. He loved to tease and had a one-of-a-kind sense of humor resulting in lots of laughs. He held on to this until the end and touched everyone he came into contact with.
Paul is survived by his daughters, Brenda (Cory) Garoutte of Glencoe, Bobbie Jo (Cliff) Carmody of Marshall; step daughters, Connie (Randy) Kosak of Fergus Falls, Jeri Beltz of Lakeville, Deb (Brad) Augustin of Comfrey, Margie (Curt) Koewler of Fairfax; as well as 21 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren, with another on the way. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Grace Volker; his wife Jeanne; parents-in-law, Irene and Leonard Schiller; son-in-law, Tim Beltz; sisters-in-law, Janet Ulmen, Joan Trebesch, Joyce Roberts and brother-in-law, Tom Roberts.