Germaine T. 'Gerry' Voelker
Germaine T. “Gerry” Voelker, 79, a lifelong resident of the Herman area, passed away peacefully Monday evening surrounded by her immediate family at the Good Samaritan Hospice at Concordia.
She was born March 28, 1933, in Butler, a daughter of the late William and Stella Birckbichler Orloski.
Since 1991, Germaine had worked as a paraprofessional for the Butler School District at Emily Brittain Elementary School until she was diagnosed with AML on Oct. 17, 2012. She had loved her job and the children there. Also, from 1986 through 1991, she had been at the Summit Township Elementary School. She had formerly worked at the Hickory Farms outlet at the Clearview Mall, and in her younger years, she had been a manager at Isaly’s Butler store.
She was a devoted and active lifetime member of St. Mary of the Assumption Roman Catholic Church in Herman, where she was a member of the Christian Mothers and their C.C.D. program. A longtime volunteer at their Lenten fish frys, she is remembered for her great coleslaw that was served.
Gerry’s loves in life were her grandchildren, children and family, and she enjoyed playing 500 Bid with them. Gerry enjoyed picking blueberries, working in the garden and in the greenhouse with her husband, Bob. Gerry was a blessing to everyone she met and will be greatly missed.
She was the widow of Robert M. Voelker. They were married for 53 years, from Nov. 27, 1958, until his passing Dec. 16, 2011.
She is survived by her loving family, including three sons, Paul (Denise) Voelker, Mark (Brenda) Voelker and Daniel Voelker, all of Butler; five daughters, Theresa Eichenlaub, Mrs. Daniel (Patricia) Palombo, Mrs. James (Susan) Rodgers and Christine Voelker, all of Butler, and Mrs. Jason (Mary Ellen) Streit of Georgia; 20 grandchildren; five brothers, Bill (Yvonne) Orloski of Petrolia, Robert Orloski, John “Jake” (“Toot”) Orloski, Kenneth (Patty) Orloski and Donald (Jean) Orloski, all of Butler; four sisters, Mrs. Earl (Phyllis) Steighner of Buffalo, N.Y., Mrs. Thomas (Janet) Lydon of Cabot, Mrs. Joseph (Mary) Otero of Apopka, Fla., and Mrs. Timothy (Joann) Lindstrom of Cabot; and numerous nieces and nephews.
VOELKER — Friends of Germaine T “Gerry” Voelker, who died Monday, Nov. 19, 2012, will be received at the Geibel Funeral Home, 201 E. Cunningham St., Butler, from 6 to 8 p.m. today and 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday. There will not be any visitation on Thanksgiving Day.A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary of the Assumption Roman Catholic Church, 821 Herman Road, Butler. The Rev. Gary Stakem, OFM Cap. and the Rev. Ward Staken, OFM Cap., pastor, will concelebrate. Interment will follow at the Parish Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, her family requests that donations be made to St. Mary of the Assumption Roman Catholic Church in Herman.
