Bruce Voelker

Bruce G. Voelker, age 73 of Faribault, passed away Wednesday, May 14, 2014 at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Minneapolis following a short illness.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. at the Divine Mercy Catholic Church, 139 Mercy Drive, in Faribault. Interment will be held at St. Lawrence Cemetery, Faribault with military honors.

Visitation will be held at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home & Crematory of Faribault on Tuesday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. and at the church on Wednesday for one hour prior to services.

Bruce Gordon Voelker, the son of Morris and Joyselle (Hedlund) Voelker, was born on July 21, 1940 in Menomonie, WI. Bruce attended Ellsworth High School and graduated with the class of 1957. After graduation, Bruce enlisted in the U.S. Army at the age of 17. After his honorable discharge from the U.S. Army, Bruce worked for State Farm Insurance Company until 1964 when he joined the sales department at Chaska Chemical in Savage, MN. Bruce worked 50 years for the company and was currently Vice-President of Sales. He was united in marriage to Helen Nelson on September 16, 1961. From this marriage they had four children; David (Chon Hui) Voelker of Seoul, South Korea, Gail (Steve) Kohl of Faribault, MN, Elizabeth Reineke of Medford, MN and Ardus (Brett) Sturdevant of Chandler, AZ. They were later divorced. On August 12, 1985 Bruce married Kathleen "Kitty" Caron and became stepfather to Jeff Caron of Faribault, MN and Sue (Brad) Osterbauer of Apple Valley, MN. They spent their marriage enjoying life on the lake with their family and friends. They loved to travel and spend time entertaining. Bruce also enjoyed golfing, trips to the casino and watching sporting events. Bruce was an active member of the Cedar Lake Sportsman's Club, the Morristown American Legion Post 149 and the Faribault Aerie 1460 Fraternal Order of Eagle's.

He is survived by his wife Kathleen "Kitty" Voelker of Faribault; by his children, nine grandchildren, Yun Hui (Bob) Danforth, Bruce Voelker, David Voelker, Mitchell Reineke, Allison Reineke, Jacob Kohl, Sara Kohl, Ryder Sturdevant and Hunter Dejong-Caron; by two great granddaughters, Emma and Elizabeth Danforth; by two brothers, Alan (Diane) Voelker of Arlington Heights, IL and David (Jane) Voelker of Ellsworth, WI; by three sisters, Kathleen (Frank) Owens of Turtle Lake, WI, Maureen (Leigh) Pregent of St. Paul, MN and Lorlee (David) Keifer of Beldonville, WI; by his brother-in-law, Ron Caron of Faribault; by his sister-in-law, Pat (Francis "Fritz") Kaderlik of Faribault and by nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents.