Joseph Leslie Les"" Volkmer

Joseph L. “Les” Volkmer, 96 of Kimball, died in Sidney on September 28, 2012. Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Kimball with Father Robert Karnish officiating. Burial will follow in the Kimball Cemetery. Military honors preformed by Kimball VFW Post #2243. Friends may call at the funeral home on Tuesday from 1:00 until 7:00 p.m. with a Christian Wake Service to follow. Friends may visit www.cantrellfh.com to view the obituary and leave condolences for the family. Memorials may be given to the Joseph Volkmer memorial fund. The services have been entrusted to the Cantrell Funeral Home.

Joseph Leslie (J. Les) Volkmer was born July 13, 1916 on the family farm near Talmage, Nebraska, to Edward and Mary (Sand) Volkmer. He was the sixth of eight children. He attended grade school in the area, one year of high school in Talmage, then took over the family farm with his widowed mother. J. Les enlisted in the draft and was called to serve on January 23, 1941 in the Calvary Division where he conducted border patrol near Tucson, Arizona. When the Calvary was disbanded in June of 1942 he served as a Company Supply Sergeant with the 83rd Infantry. They landed on Normandy Beach in April of 1944, 10 days after D-Day. He served in all five of the major battles including the Battle of the Bulge. J. Les was called back during the Korean War for a short time which gave him a total of six years in the service. During this time, he was awarded five Battle Stars. Les returned home and moved to Kimball, Nebraska in July of 1946, where he became a State Farm Insurance agent (35 years), a Real Estate broker and appraiser. In 1947 he married Lorraine Matilda Frederick who grew up in Kimball. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, 3rd and 4th Degree Knights of Columbus. He also served as Grand Knight and was a member of the American Legion and of the VFW. He helped organize the Kimball Junior Chamber of Commerce and served as its President for four years. He was a member of the Lions Club and worked with Kimball County Fair Board and Irrigation District. After retiring from State Farm, Les spent 19 winters in Mesa, AZ, enjoying the warm weather as a Snowbird.

Survivors include his wife of 68 years, twelve children: Jeanette and Greg Heinike of Bell Buckle, Tennesee; James and Connie (Wackel) of Leesburg,Virginia; Monica Bordash and Gil Reyes of East Lake, Colorado, Theresa and Jim Ward of Cheyenne, Wyoming, Arlene and Guy Ott of Mesa, Arizona; Randy and Jennifer Volkmer of Kearney, Nebraska; Jody and Brian Johnson of Great Bend, Kansas; Robert and Deanna Volkmer of Sidney, Nebraska; Mary Sanders and James McLin of Humble, Texas; Virginia and Jon Fessenden of Pampa, Texas; Sheila and Barrick Benson of Snohomish, Washington; and Leslie and Scott Zeilinger of Tucson, Arizona. He is also survived by 28 Grandchildren, 31 Great Grandchildren, and two Great, Great Grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents, 4 sisters and 3 brothers.