William Karl Volkert Jr.

William Karl (Bill) Volkert, Jr. died on December 20, 2016 in Portland, Oregon. A Celebration of Bill’s Life will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Gresham, Oregon on January 7th, 2017, at 11:00 am, with Pastors Curt Zieske and Jerry Furgurson officiating. Bateman Carroll Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Funeral services will be held at St. John Lutheran Church in Cushing, Iowa, later in the spring of 2017 with Pastor Doug Opp officiating. Burial will be in the Cushing Cemetery.

Bill was born on July 27, 1922 in Battle Creek, Iowa to William K. Volkert, Sr. and Grace (Denker) Volkert. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church. He graduated from Cushing Consolidated School. He entered into a farming partnership with his father in 1942. Bill was passionate about conserving the soil and was an early advocate of contouring, terracing, and tiling. In 1982, Bill was awarded the district Marc Cox award for conservation.

Bill married Lois G. Severson at St. John Lutheran Church on December 27, 1943. Three children were born to this union: Jon Douglas (Guyla) Volkert of Chicago, Il, Thomas Dean (Sandra) Volkert of Correctionville, IA and Dana Jo (Victor) Olson of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Lois taught school in Cushing until her retirement. Bill and Lois were foster parents for many years. Lois passed away on June 10, 2002.

On July 27th, 2002, his 80th birthday, Bill fulfilled a long-held desire and went skydiving in Minnesota. He also skydived in Oregon on his 85th birthday.

Bill married Dana (Severson) Chidester on May 17, 2003. After their marriage in Sioux City, IA, Bill moved to Gresham, Oregon. From this union, Bill became a father to Steve (Deborah) Chidester of Pleasanton, CA and Susan (Matt) Danielski of Gresham, OR. Bill joined Trinity Lutheran Church and he and Dana volunteered at Zarephath Pantry for over ten years.

Bill is survived by his wife Dana, sons Jon and his wife Guyla of Chicago, Tom and his wife Sandra of Correctionville, IA, and daughter Dana Jo and her husband Victor of Colorado Springs, CO, stepson Steve and his wife Deborah of Pleasanton, CA, and stepdaughter Susan and her husband Matt of Gresham, OR, eleven grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren, five great-great-grandchildren, and special family friends Brent and Crystal Renken and family. He was preceded in death by his parents, first wife Lois and many cousins and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Trinity Lutheran Church or Zarephath Pantry.