George Voelker

George Voelker, 97, of Miller, died Friday, December 9, 2011 at the Good Samaritan Center of Miller. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, December 16 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Miller with Pastor Bob Ohnstad officiating. Visitation will be Thursday, December 15 from 5-7 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service all at Rembold Funeral Home in St. Lawrence. Burial will be at G.A.R. Cemetery in Miller.

George Voelker was born to William and Stella Pearl (Hickox) Voelker on October 3, 1914 on a rural farm south of Ree Heights. He went to school in Ree Heights and started working in the Ree Heights Garage, which started his life-long passion for working on anything that needed repair. During hard times he enlisted in the Civilian Conservation Corps at Hill City Camp in the Black Hills from 1933 to 1936. He also worked at the S&P Oil Company in Highmore and purchased a trucking company and hauled hay to Gutsum Borglum in trade for fence posts for the cattle industry in Hyde County.

While working in Highmore he met Lillie (Tillie) Rose Dittman of HIghmore, whom he married on October 12, 1940. George volunteered for service in 1942 and served as a Primary Flight Instructor on the Stearman aircraft at Eagle Field Dos Palos in California. Following his service, George worked at a garage in Long Beach, California, until his return to Miller in 1948 where he worked for Ziegler Motors as a mechanic. Following this, he opened George?s Auto Service, on the Miller main street, which would be a Miller mainstay for nearly 20 years. This location had gas pumps, auto parts, and several mechanics servicing several county farmers and city residents. When he tired of running a garage, he rented the garage to J&J Auto and focused on just auto parts and operated as General Auto Electric in 1959. Soon he got the urge to return to the repair business and opened a small garage in the alley behind his house in 1962. He operated the smaller Georges? Auto Service until he slowed down around 2007, the end of 60 years of Georges? Auto Service. At different times Georges? Auto Service sold Ford tractors, Scorpion snow mobiles, and Stihl chain saws. He was known to have worked on anything that fit inside his shop and had customers that drove several miles to have work done.

Following the passing of his first wife in 1985, George married Bernita Landgrebe in 1986, which flourish until his passing. He and Bernita shared the interests of fishing, card playing and spending the winters in Apache Junction, Arizona. This created an expanded family that provided him much happiness with young children and being able to be a grandfather to show his interests of fishing and fixing things.

George served as Cub Scout Leader, Miller City Alderman, 25 year member Miller Fire Department, Chairman on Trinity Lutheran Church Building Committee when the current church was built, Charter member of the Miller Lions, and over 50 year member of American Legion. He was also recognized for 60 year membership as a mason. He enjoyed a lifetime of hunting and fishing the lakes and rivers in South Dakota, with trips to Canada and Wyoming.

Heis survived by his wife of 25 years, Bernita of Miller; two children, Cheryl (Bob) McKellips of Melbourn, Florida and Chuck Voelker of Grapevine, Texas; four step-children Susan (Brad) Jorgenson , David (Diane) Landgrebe, Lori (Rod) Schneller, and Jody Landgrebe; 17 grandchildren;, 7 great-grandchildren; one sister Leone Schultz of Tulare, South Dakota; and several nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, nine brothers and sisters, and his first wife Lillie. He leaves behind his fishing and hunting friends, coffee club members over the years, and many Miller residents that were his customers and friends for over 60 years.