Delbert L. Volquardsen

Delbert L. Volquardsen, age 78, of Miles, Iowa passed away Friday, October 3, 2014 after a well-lived life that was full of family, honor, and hard-work. A funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, October 8, 2014 at the Law-Jones Funeral Home, Preston, Iowa with Reverend Teresa Bartlett of the 1st Presbyterian Church of Miles officiating. Burial will be in the Miles City Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 7, 2014 at the Funeral Home.
Delbert was born July 7, 1936 in Clinton, the son of Karl and Myrtle (McDonald) Volquardsen. He grew up by the Elk River near Hauntown. He liked trapping, and as a freshman in high school, Delbert received fame in the newspaper for trapping one of the largest beavers in the area. He is a 1954 graduate of the Miles High School. After graduation, Delbert served in the United States Marine Corp from 1954 - 1957, attaining the rank of Sergeant serving in Okinawa, Japan and San Fransisco. On October 12, 1957, Delbert married Shirley Thompson at the 1st Presbyterian Church of Miles.
Delbert and Shirley began farming and eventually bought their family farm near Green Island in 1969. He retired from farming in 1987, then worked ten years at The Alverno, Clinton, in maintenance. He also did carpentry work with his father-in-law, working on many area buildings and homes. He spent a great deal of time sawing logs with his woodmizer sawmill, was especially fond of his grandchildren and great grandchildren and enjoyed attending grandchildren's sporting events. He loved going out to eat. Delbert was known by all his family as the fix-it-man, who always had anything you needed. He always had Smarties candy in his front pocket as well.
Delbert will be dearly missed by his wife, Shirley; four sons, Timothy J. (Valerie K.) Volquardsen of Miles, Mark (Colleen) Volquardsen of Clinton, Craig (Sandra) Volquardsen of Miles and Todd (Teresa) Volquardsen of Miles; one daughter, Lisa (Mike Leamy) Volquardsen of Miles; fifteen grandchildren, T.J. (Alicia), Mike (Ashley), Blaine, Dustin "Pete" and Brittany Volquardsen, Lindsey Rittmer (Tory Woodhurst), Avery and Paige Rowold, Jessica (Allen) Roling, Kristin Pickett (Shad Widener), Kyle Driscoll (Elizabeth Smithson), Jacob Kruse, Sean Goddard, Michele Goddard and Keli (Nate) Onken; five great-grandchildren, Ayden, Hailee, McKena, Harper and Maggie; a brother, Harold Volquardsen of Clinton; and a family friend, Carol Nagel. Delbert is preceded in death by a brother, Lenny; both parents; and a son-in-law, Gary Pickett.