My Grandpa Joe passed away last Monday in Seaside, CA. I have been fortunate enough that three of my four grandparents have survived until I was well into my thirties. My paternal grandmother passed away almost 25 years ago, but then she did bear 10 children—8 of them after she had turned 30—so I suppose there's only so much a body can take before it begins to break down. My paternal grandfather lived to be 93, and my maternal grandparents are both still alive at 85 years old. Good genes!
As my grandfather lived an extraordinarily full life, always surrounded by his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, I found myself more inclined to celebrate his life than mourn his passing. I will miss seeing and talking to him, but dementia had begun to slip in over the past few years, and since I only make it to the Monterey area from Atlanta every two or three years, it had been several years since I truly had a conversation with him. My most vivid memory of Grandpa Joe from my adult years came when Katherine and I stopped in Monterey in 1999 on our way back from our honeymoon. We went to breakfast with Grandpa at The Breakfast Club, and while his mental faculties were still fairly sharp, his hearing was not so good. The upshot was that he kept making comments that he thought only I could hear, but which, in fact, entertained everyone within 20 feet. This included Katherine, about whom the most entertaining comments were made:
- "You married a young one, eh? That's good, she'll keep her figure longer."
- "You've got to watch the blonde ones though, some aren't too sharp. Especially if they're good-lookin' like her."
Katherine, who had lost both grandfathers by high school, did not have much experience with old men evaluating her, and was rather amused. Needless to say, she is both good-looking
and incredibly sharp.
In most of my memories of him from childhood, he seemed rather tired and worn out (10 children and almost 30 grandkids will do that do you). But as he got older and the filters came off, I saw a much more lively man. It was great to be at the Rosary service and funeral, because I got to hear more stories about what he was like as a younger man. And it was incredibly cool to hear his children, one after another, talk about how he instilled in them a love for Christ and a dedication to the Church.
Enjoy your well-earned rest, Grandpa Joe. I will remember you, now, every time I eat a Hershey bar.
His obituary appears below.
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Joseph John Volk
December 15, 1914 - April 7, 2008Joseph John “Joe” Volk passed away peacefully at his home in Seaside on Monday, April 7, 2008, at the age of 93, surrounded by his family. He was born on a farm near the small town of Sherwood, North Dakota, on December 15, 1914 to John and Caroline Volk. He worked on the family farm for a number of years but hopped a freight train headed west at the age of 18 as the Great Depression and Dust Bowl drought gripped the Great Plains. After a variety of jobs in the early and mid 1930’s, Joe joined the U.S. Army in 1937 at Fort Lewis, Washington. There, he met and married Vera Linnea Fata of Port Angeles, on June 5, 1940. He served at Fort Amador, Panama Canal Zone in World War II. He was transferred to San Diego after the war and then to Fort Ord in 1947, where he settled with his family in Seaside. While stationed at Fort Ord, he served in Korea and after that conflict, managed the Bakery, Commissary and Post Exchange at the busy training base here on the Peninsula. After he retired from 23 years active duty, Master Sergeant Volk continued to serve at Fort Ord as a civil servant another 13 years, and worked with partners in retail and landscape businesses in the Monterey Peninsula area. Joe was a founding member of Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Seaside and a Life Member of the Knights of Columbus Council No. 5261 of Seaside. He played baseball as a young man, was an avid bowler and is a member of the American Bowling Association Hall of Fame.
Mr. Volk joins his beloved wife Vera, who passed before him in 1984 and is survived by his brother, Leo Volk of Sherwood, North Dakota, and 10 children, 31 grandchildren and 35 great grandchildren. His children include Linda Ciandro (Nick) of Monterey, Loren Volk (Sharon), of Marietta, Georgia, John Volk (Mary) of Redding, Esther Goes (Harley) of San Jose, Karin Perkins (Ed) of Seaside, Carolyn Blackmore (Wayne) of Sonora, Dennis Volk of Seaside, Teresa Bennett (Tim) of Marina, Tim Volk (Cami) of Ceres, and Reverend Michael Volk of Seaside.
In celebration of his life, a Visitation will be held at Saint Francis Xavier Church on Friday, April 11, 2008 at 5:00 pm followed by a Rosary Vigil at 7:30 pm. Mass of the Resurrection will be on Saturday, April 12, 2008 at 11:00 am. In lieu of Flowers, the family suggests donations to the Joseph and Vera Volk Parish Renovation Fund at St. Francis Xavier Church, 1475 LaSalle Ave., Seaside, California, 93955.
Last Thursday night, we took the kids to see the touring show of Disney's The Lion King (part of the Atlanta Broadway Series). We had originally bought the tickets back in November, but the wait was worth it. This was there first experience with theatre, and we definitely picked the right show. There were transfixed by the animals brought to life by the actors/dancers/puppeteers—especially the giraffes, hyenas, and of course Scar. They were enthralled by the whole experience, from the drive into "the big city," to sitting in the balcony, to getting a close-up view of one of the chorus as he waved a bird through the air on a long, flexible pole.
