Obit: Voelker, Francis H. "Fran" (1931 - 2012)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Voelker, Ludwig, Padrnos, Feely, Wade, Corby, Parker, DeWolf, Kosloski, Hannigan

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., WI.)  February 15, 2012

Voelker, Francis H. "Fran" (5 January 1931 - 2 February 2012) With Flag

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial was held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, February 8, 2012, at Christ Church Newman Center in St. Cloud for Francis H. "Fran" Voelker, age 81, of Oak Park Heights and formerly of St. Cloud and Sartell. Fran passed away peacefully with family at his side on February 2, 2012. Inurnment will take place in the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls at a later date. Visitation was one hour prior to services at the church on Wednesday.

Fran was born on January 5, 1931, in Thorp, Wisconsin to Gilbert A. and Josephine (Ludwig) Voelker.  He served in the U. S. Army from 1953-1955.  He married Ludmila ‘Mil’ Padrnos on December 27, 1954, at St. Hedwig’s Catholic Church in Holdingford.  He was a graduate of St. John’s University and St. Cloud State University.  He was a professor of English and Mass Communications at St. Cloud State University from 1959-1991.  He was a member of the NCTE, AAUP, MLA, AEJMC, and was the first president of the Inter-Faculty Organization (IFO) after collective bargaining was instituted.

Fran also taught English and coached at Foley High School from 1955-1959 where he started the Foley Falcon wrestling team in 1955.  He was an ardent supporter of athletics at St. Cloud State University, having season tickets for over 35 years.

Fran and Mil co-authored and edited numerous publications, which included Mass media:Forces in our Society, 1972, 1975, 1978: History and Legends of the Padrnos Family, 2000: History of Big Birch Lake, 2007: and Impressions Magazine.

Fran was a founding member of Christ Church Newman Center.  He participated in many parish and diocesan programs, including writing ‘Catholic News and Views’ for broadcast in the 1960s.  He was a member of Kiwanis.  He owned a cabin on Birch Lake for 31 years and enjoyed visits from family and friends.

Fran is survived by his wife, Mil; children: Mary Jo (John) Feely of Stillwater, Marjorie (Jim) Wade of Stillwater, Catherine Corby Parker of Jacksonville Beach, FL, Thomas (Kathy) Voelker of Wisconsin Rapids, WI, and Paul Voelker of South Milwaukee, WI.  He is also survived by his 11 grandchildren: Sarah (Chad) DeWolf, Eric Wade, Bennett (Krystin) Corby, Margaret (Phil) Kosloski, Lauren (Cory) Hannigan, Elizabeth Voelker, Jessica Wade, Jane Voelker, Mary Corby, Alisha Wade and Emma Voelker; two great-granddaughters: Therese Kosloski and Kaila Hannigan; brother, Gilbert J. (Bette) Voelker of Thorp, WI; and nine nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to the Newman Center or to the Fran and Mil Voelker Endowed Scholarship in Mass Communications at St. Cloud State University.