William Henry Voelker Jr.

William (Bill) Henry Voelker Jr, 89, passed away peacefully on April 15, 2020 after a brief illness. He had suffered from Alzheimer’s for the last few years. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and uncle. He leaves his wife of 58 years, Ollie Porche Voelker; his children: Cindy (Stan) Bonis, Eric Voelker, Heidi Davis, and Kathryn Walker; grandchildren: Brynn Davis Yang (James), Blaine Bonis, Tess Davis, Annie Bonis, Ethan Walker, Rhett Davis, Kaitlin Walker and 2 great-granddaughters, Kaylee and Ivy.

Bill was born in 1931 in New Orleans where he attended St. Aloysius High School. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Spring Hill College in Mobile with a Bachelor’s Degree in Latin, English, and Philosophy. He liked to share that he only got one B during his college career because one of his theology professors thought only God deserved an A. He taught Latin, English, and journalism at Spring Hill for eight years prior to becoming a writer. He completed his Master’s Degree in Public Administration at UNO in 1985.

Bill started his writing career as a reporter for the Houma Courier where he met his wife. After a job at the Lafayette Advertiser, Bill was managing editor of the Franklin Banner Tribune for two years. He then spent 33 years at the Times Picayune, retiring in 1999. During his time at the Picayune, he was an editorial writer, business writer, investigative reporter, and a reporter for the federal court. He spent his career looking for things that were “wrong” and could help the community if changed. He wrote about milk price-fixing in New Orleans, leading to stores' ability to set their own prices. His articles about the levees in St. Bernard led to increased awareness of the need for greater protection. He received an Award of merit from the Orleans Levee Board.

The highlight of his career was his Louisiana Computergate investigation, when he wrote 125 articles over 7 months about a complex computer scandal, even risking jail time and his safety. His efforts triggered state and federal investigations. For these articles, he was awarded a 1979 Davenport Fellowship in business and economics reporting at the University of Missouri-Columbia. He also received six first-place awards in local, state, and regional competitions.

Bill won multiple other first place journalism awards in regional, state and local competitions. He was nominated twice, two years in a row, for a Pulitzer prize in investigative reporting. He won many other awards, including LSU School of Journalism Community Service Award, an award for the Archdiocese Office on Aging for outstanding leadership and inspiration, Louisiana Toastmasters, and the Press Club of New Orleans.

He loved that he was German, also his New Orleans heritage. He loved his mother’s Braciollini and stuffed mirlitons and cooked them often after he retired, along with other recipes. He enjoyed traveling after he retired, and visited his son in Germany twice. He sang in the German Seaman’s Mission choir, and liked to wear lederhosen. He loved singing around the house (something his kids will always remember), listening to music (Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, and Jim Nabors in particular), dancing, and spending time with his grandchildren.

In his last few years with his declining memory, Bill loved to say he was proud to be German, and “I am a graduate of Spring Hill College,” where he visited this summer with his grandchildren, one of whom now attends college there.

He was a parishioner of St. Charles Borromeo, Destrehan. Secondary to social distancing, we will have a private burial now and celebrate a Catholic funeral Mass later. Bill enjoyed family vacations at the beach, where we hope to celebrate his life this summer, dancing on the beach and drinking German beer.

Thanks to Kenner Ochsner Medical Center and Hospice Campassus for their comfort and taking care of us during this difficult time.

For those who wish, a donation may be made to a church of your choice, Spring Hill College in Mobile, or the Alzheimer’s Association.