Donald Voelker

Donald Joseph Voelker, 83, Forest Lake, died Wednesday, April 14, 2010.

Don was born on April 19, 1926 and was raised on the south shore of Clear Lake and lived for over 45 years on the North Shore of Clear Lake.   Seventy four of Don’s nearly 84 years were lived in the town of Forest Lake. He graduated from Forest Lake High School in 1944. He enlisted in the Army during high school, and by the end of 1944, he was on his way to serve in the Pacific during WWII. He served in the Philippines and the occupation of Japan with the Headquarter Battery, 192 ^nd Field Artillery Battalion. He was truly one of “the greatest generation,” conservative in his values, finances, and faith. He worked for Sperry-Univac for 27 years and retired in 1981.   During retirement, he drove bus for Morley Bus Co. for 7 years, transporting disabled children to and from school. Don and Norma traveled with their RV for 25 years, spending alternate winters in Florida and Arizona.   Don loved the Superior National Forest, and from the time he was very young spent as much time as he could at Harriet Lake, north of Finland, MN, where he would fish and hunt. He always said, “Let’s go up to the Big Woods”. Don was a Boy Scout Leader for many years, participating with all three sons as they were involved in scouting activities. His interests included early Ford Mustangs – he owned a 1966 Mustang convertible. He also collected and restored antique outboard motors, and belonged to The Antique Outboard Motor Club. Don greatly enjoyed the Minnesota Street Rod Association’s “Back to the ‘50’s" weekend, and was a member of MSRA. He was preceded in death by his father, Joseph, mother, Laura, and sister, June. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Norma (Wilder) Voelker; their children: Todd and his wife Sue, Jay and his wife Kresti, Patrick and his wife Cindy; grandchildren: Kathryn, Andrew, Thomas, and Abigail, and great-grandchildren: Benjamin and Maxwell; and his sister Mary.

A Celebration of His Life will be held at 12:00 p.m., Saturday, April 17, 2010 at Mattson Funeral Home, 343 North Shore Drive, Forest Lake. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will be held at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to International Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia Foundation, www.iwmf.com – click on “How to Contribute” or Boy Scouts of America, www.scouting.org – click on “Donate”