Volkens, Henry (Hank) (1902-1977)

VOLKENS, JAMES, BEBENSEE, PRYOR, KAHLER

Posted By: Jean Volkens Goodner (email)
Date: 1/18/2019 at 19:56:16

Henry (Hank) Volkens

Henry Volkens, oldest son of Bernhardt and Emma (Kahler) Volkens was born June 24, 1902 at
Treynor, Iowa. Death came suddenly Sunday morning, August 21, 1977, at Jennie Edmundsen
Hospital in Council Bluffs where he had been taken the day before when he complained of not
feeling well. Death due to an apparent heart attack. He was 75 years, 1 month and 27 days.

Hank grew up on the family far at the east edge of Treynor. He was baptized and confirmed in
Zion Congregational church where he was a member all his life.

He attended public school in Treynor’s two room school. In later years when the district was
consolidated, he took the job of bus driver bringing the youngsters in from the rural areas.

In those early years of growing up, the Volkens family kept quite a number of milk cows,
supplying most of the Treynor people’s needs for milk and cream, and it was the duty of the
boys to deliver milk door to door, often resorting to their little coaster wagon to haul the milk to
their customers.

As a young man, Henry became involved in music and soon was a member of a locally formed
band playing the saxophone and clarinet. The group first called themselves the “Black Cats.”
Later the group he played in were known as “Dud’s Orioles”. They played for dances in the
Treynor Hall but just as often they were on the road playing in neighboring towns.

Hank rented the Schultz farm a mile east of Treynor for a number and years, and it was there
he took his bride, Emma Schroeder, following their marriage at the home of her parents on
March 2, 1927. To this union, one son was born.

In March 1937, the family moved to Shelby where they continued to farm. Henry continued to
be active in community affairs, serving on the school board at Shelby for a number of years.
Their beautifully kept farm and yards attest to the couple’s love for beauty and flowers. Henry’s
love of the outdoors found him enjoying fishing trips with family and friends and many trips
were taken to Minnesota and Canada to see if the fish were hungry.

The Volkenses celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary in March 1977.

Mourning his death are his wife, Emma and son Donald of Shelby, 3 brothers, Herman and
Benny of Treynor, and John of Carson; 3 sisters, Marie Bebensee of Treynor, Amanda Pryor of
Fairfield, CA and Irene James of Council Bluffs; 3 grandchildren, Mrs. Glee (Jean) Goodner,
David and Lynn Volkens and one great grandson, Andy, besides nieces, nephews and friends.
Two brothers, Harry and Arno and a sister, Helen, preceded him in death.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, August 25, at 2 at Zion Congregational church in Treynor
with the Rev A.H. Hoersch officiating. Burial was in the cemetery next to the church in Treynor.