JOANN M. VOELKER, 87, passed away on Saturday, July 22, 2017 peacefully at home. Born in Ossian Ind., she was the twelfth child of Gustav and Annetta Springer. Joann graduated as valedictorian of Ossian High School class of 1947. Kindness and the desire to serve others, is how Joann lived her life. For many years she served as secretary of the Southside Optimist Club. Her children and neighbors will remember Joann for her bountiful vegetable gardens which she shared every season. Her grandkids will remember Grandma for her personalized birthday cakes, delicious desserts and cookies, comforting quilts and blankets, and meaningful poems and treats that came with every birthday card. Joann took her talents of sewing and baking as service to the Lord at Emmanuel Lutheran Church. She made many specialty banners for the church and was honored to sew the paraments and fair linens. She was active as a member of the Altar Guild, and helped comfort people with meals after funerals. At Emmanuel's annual October Festival, Joann could always be counted on for her famous Buckeyes and help making thousands of apple dumplings. Joann had an amazing faith. E-mails from family were often replied to with a very appropriate Bible verse. Right now she would say: "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Joann met her husband Arthur Voelker when he kindly opened a door for her when entering work at General Electric. They enjoyed 61 years of marriage. Joann and the family are still mourning his death as he passed away exactly six months ago. After eight years at GE, Joann left work to raise four children, Lori (Edwin) Schultz of Rochester Minn., Mark (Kate) Voelker of Mishawaka, Ind., Marcia (Robert) Shriner of Kendallville Ind., and Amy (Joseph) Kissinger of Markel Ind. Survivors also include 10 grandchildren, Emily (Jonathan) Meyer, Thomas Schultz, Bethany Schultz, Margaret Voelker, Patrick Voelker, Mary Voelker, Michael Voelker, Alicia (Brian) Fetter, Rebekah Shriner, Christa (Justin) Farrell; and three great-grandchildren. Also surviving is her brother, Kenneth Springer (Eileen) of Ossian. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Roy, Donald, Forrest, Raymond; and sisters, Frieda Fenton, Gertrude Hitzeman, Linda Caston, Della Hilsmier, Bernadine Brewer, and Mildred Menze. Funeral Service is 11 a.m. Monday. July 31, 2017 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church on Jefferson Street, Fort Wayne, with visitation one hour prior to the service. Pastor Thomas Eggold will officiate. Friends may also from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, July 30, 2017 at Klaehn, Fahl & Melton Funeral Home, Winchester Road. Memorials to Emmanuel Lutheran Church and/or Worship for Shut-ins. Burial will be at Concordia Cemetery.
Published in Fort Wayne Newspapers on July 27, 2017
JOANN M. VOELKER, 87, passed away on Saturday, July 22, 2017 peacefully at home. Born in Ossian Ind., she was the twelfth child of Gustav and Annetta Springer. Joann graduated as valedictorian of Ossian High School class of 1947. Kindness and the desire to serve others, is how Joann lived her life. For many years she served as secretary of the Southside Optimist Club. Her children and neighbors will remember Joann for her bountiful vegetable gardens which she shared every season. Her grandkids will remember Grandma for her personalized birthday cakes, delicious desserts and cookies, comforting quilts and blankets, and meaningful poems and treats that came with every birthday card. Joann took her talents of sewing and baking as service to the Lord at Emmanuel Lutheran Church. She made many specialty banners for the church and was honored to sew the paraments and fair linens. She was active as a member of the Altar Guild, and helped comfort people with meals after funerals. At Emmanuel's annual October Festival, Joann could always be counted on for her famous Buckeyes and help making thousands of apple dumplings. Joann had an amazing faith. E-mails from family were often replied to with a very appropriate Bible verse. Right now she would say: "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Joann met her husband Arthur Voelker when he kindly opened a door for her when entering work at General Electric. They enjoyed 61 years of marriage. Joann and the family are still mourning his death as he passed away exactly six months ago. After eight years at GE, Joann left work to raise four children, Lori (Edwin) Schultz of Rochester Minn., Mark (Kate) Voelker of Mishawaka, Ind., Marcia (Robert) Shriner of Kendallville Ind., and Amy (Joseph) Kissinger of Markel Ind. Survivors also include 10 grandchildren, Emily (Jonathan) Meyer, Thomas Schultz, Bethany Schultz, Margaret Voelker, Patrick Voelker, Mary Voelker, Michael Voelker, Alicia (Brian) Fetter, Rebekah Shriner, Christa (Justin) Farrell; and three great-grandchildren. Also surviving is her brother, Kenneth Springer (Eileen) of Ossian. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Roy, Donald, Forrest, Raymond; and sisters, Frieda Fenton, Gertrude Hitzeman, Linda Caston, Della Hilsmier, Bernadine Brewer, and Mildred Menze. Funeral Service is 11 a.m. Monday. July 31, 2017 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church on Jefferson Street, Fort Wayne, with visitation one hour prior to the service. Pastor Thomas Eggold will officiate. Friends may also from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, July 30, 2017 at Klaehn, Fahl & Melton Funeral Home, Winchester Road. Memorials to Emmanuel Lutheran Church and/or Worship for Shut-ins. Burial will be at Concordia Cemetery.
Published in Fort Wayne Newspapers on July 27, 2017
Family Members
-
![]()
Roy Victor Springer
1908–1971
-
![]()
Frieda Louise Springer Fenton
1910–2002
-
![]()
Donald Gustave Springer
1912–1997
-
![]()
Gertrude Annetta Springer Hitzeman
1913–2001
-
![]()
Forrest A. Springer
1915–1984
-
![]()
Della E. Springer Hilsmier
1916–2008
-
![]()
Linda Armilla Springer Caston
1918–2008
-
![]()
Mildred M. Springer Menze
1920–2013
-
![]()
Bernadine Meta Springer Brewer
1921–2013
-
![]()
Raymond C. Springer
1923–2008
-
![]()
Kenneth Lawrence Springer
1925–2022
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
