Dolores May Volkert (nee Belke), was called to God from her pain and suffering on June 30, 2016. Born on May 11, 1924 to Leo Belke and Clara Pionke Belke in Stevens Point, Dolores became her mother’s helper upon the death of her father in 1935. The family ended up in Milwaukee, where Dolores attended St. Boniface grade school and North Division High School. During her senior year, Dolores met John at a Social Center dance. Theirs was a correspondence courtship, culminating in marriage to John R. Volkert, Jr. on June 16, 1945. They lived in Pensacola, Florida until October 1st when John went on inactive duty and they returned to Milwaukee. There they began raising their children. In 1953 John accepted a job transfer to West Bend. When the situation presented itself, Dolores worked as a cashier at the West Bend theatre and when the youngest child went to school all day, Dolores was employed at the West Bend Company as a clerk in the billing department.
Dolores is survived by seven children: Richard (Nancy), Ellain (Ken) Puls, Barbara (Joseph) Kowalski, John Charles (Sue), Paul (Tricia), Karen (Rick) Langdon, Steven (Joni). She is further survived by 37 grandchildren, 45 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren, brother Louis J. (Harriet) Belke, brothers-in-law Louis J. Jacobi and Marvin (Eloise) Volkert, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was predeceased by her parents, daughter Adrianne (Tom) Swingen, great-grandson Caleb Peterson, sisters Norma Jacobi and Leona Miller, brother-in-law Robert Volkert, sister-in-law Evelyn (Ed) Laczeski.
A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, July 9, 2016 at Holy Angels Catholic Church (138 N. 8th Ave), with Father Jerry Repenshek presiding. Final place of rest will be at Holy Angels Cemetery. Visitation will be at the CHURCH ONLY on Saturday, July 9 from 9:00 am until time of mass (10:30 am).
Sincere thanks to Seasons Hospice staff for their superior care and comfort.
My sympathy to the family. My sister Jean Terlinden was best friends with Adrianne who had passed away years ago. May your mother RIP. June Karnitz