Dad's obituary

Here's what I wrote for Dad's obituary.  I hope it gets across a little bit about him as a man.

URBANA – Joseph E. Voelkl, 83, of Urbana, formerly of Lisle, Illinois died Friday (May 9, 2008) at Heartland Healthcare in Champaign.

A funeral mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Urbana.  The Rev. Joseph T. Hogan will officiate.  Burial will be in Maplewood Cemetery in Rantoul.

Mr. Voelkl was born December 7, 1924, a son of Joseph and Anna Voelkl in Rochester, New York.  He married Pauline Nelson in 1952.  She survives.  Also surviving are three daughters, Deborah Russo of Jamaica Plain, MA, Judith Voelkl of Clemson, SC, Cynthia Voelkl of Champaign, son-in-law Ernest Blackwelder and two beloved grandsons, Leo and Owen Blackwelder.

He served in the South Pacific on a Navy LST during World War II.  A proud veteran, he knew the cost of war and his heart broke for the men and women serving in the current war.  A lifelong fighter of injustice, his greatest joy as an attorney was winning a case for the underdog.  He loved American history, antiques, and the history of habeas corpus.  His spirit will be greatly missed by those that knew him.

Comments

[Judi]

That is a beautiful obituary - it captures Dad so well. Thank you for all you do for Dad and Mom. Love, Judi

[mrs. chicken]

Beautiful, Cynthia.

I was born and raised in Rochester, heading back there soon for a visit. A small world. I'll think of your dad - and mine - when I see the blue horizon of Lake Ontario.

[Anna]

Beautifully written! I'm thinking of you and wishing I could be there on Thursday morning. Just know that my prayers are with you and your family

[veganlinda]

This is beautiful. My heart aches for you, your mom, and your entire family.

[Don]

You all are in our thoughts.

[Rebekah Youngman-Forbes]

Cynthia,
You and I are acquaintances from C-U past tho you may not remember me. We hugged at the latest VB reunion, reintroduced as faces in the crowd, but today I want to call you my friend. Thank you for sharing your life with me through your beautiful blog. I want you to know that I am praying for you, Ernie, your Mum, Leo and Owen - and everyone that is in the love bubble surrounding your Dad's life and death. I know he was a wonderful man, as is Ernie, and that you are surely hurting these days. I am going through a hand of cards so similar to yours -- I relate. Cancer (mine), Alzheimer's (my Dad's), C-U (my beloved old towns), children (Our boy is 17 now), the Kinks (precious air for breathing fans, Mott, and many of the same friends from my past. My e-mail is rryoungman@anderson.edu. When you have a chance - I have a couple questions for you. Maybe you can send me your phone # and I could call you sometime. Love and tears to you, Cynthia. Rebekah Youngman-Forbes (Becky Youngman)

[Mel Farrell]

Cynthia--you have a wonderful narrative gift. The description of your Dad reminds me of my own father, whom we lost way too early in my family's lives. The bookshelves in my house are filled with his books on history, his favorite subject. He was an editor at Prentice-Hall and Macmillan, although he really wanted to be a college professor. Service in WWII in Burma interrupted his studies--and then the family came along...

His death [at age 54] was very sudden and unexpected--we were all unprepared, but I knew--even though I was 1,000 miles away from New Jersey--that some connection had been severed. I was driving in my car to my house near Monticello and I felt a severe feeling of dread come over me. When I walked in the house, the phone was ringing and I knew it was bad news. To this day, I HATE talking on the phone.

[Misc]

Cynthia, that is a beautiful obituary.

I wish I could attend your father's Mass, but will not be able to. Please accept my deepest sympathies. May the happy memories you have of your dad bring you comfort in this time of sadness and always.

[Misc]

Cynthia, that is a beautiful obituary.

I wish I could attend your father's Mass, but will not be able to. Please accept my deepest sympathies. May the happy memories you have of your dad bring you comfort in this time of sadness and always.

[Kirsten]

Cynthia, what a lovely obituary. In all you have written about him it is so clear how much you loved your father, and how deserving of that love he was. I'm so sorry for this hard time for all of you, especially your mother. You are in my thoughts.

[Lisa]

That's a wonderful obituary, and I'm so sorry you had to write it. All the best.