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William Volkman Obituary
William W. Volkman
Born: June 14, 1925
Died: July 23, 2015
William "Doc" Walter Volkman, 90, a resident of Wheaton, died peacefully Thursday, July 23, 2015, at his home in Wheaton.
William is survived by his wife, Jan Ord Harris; by five children, Vicki (Greg) Janik of Saugatuck, MI, Scott (Claudia) Volkman of North Fort Myers, FL, Robin (Michael) Wilhelm of Aurora, Kim (Don) Schweinberg of Hickory Hills, and Valerie (Rick) DeKam of Kalamazoo, MI; 13 grandchildren, Valerie, Brian, Adam, Shawn, Steve, Lisa, Lindsey, Brett, Kate, Andy, Matt, Bill and Scott; and 11 great-grandchildren, Rachael, Brooke, Gavin, John, Cole, Micah, Cadence, Dylan, Anna, Maddox and Greyson.
His relationship with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren has always been one of mutual admiration, and their "Papa" will be greatly missed.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Marjorie (nee Buchholz) in 2008.
Bill was born in River Forest on June 14, 1925, half an hour after his twin, Ernie (deceased) and seventeen months after his elder brother, Eric Walter (deceased). He attended Oak Park High School, enlisted in the Naval Air Force in 1943, helped train foreign students in navigational skills, and attended Northwestern undergrad and Law School on the GI bill, graduating in 1952 with a JD and as a CPA. He worked as a tax attorney in Chicago for a few years while teaching at Northwestern.
In 1953 he took a position at Wheaton College, where he taught Business Law and Economics for 10 years, earning him the nickname "Doc." He was a passionate and dedicated teacher who inspired many of his students to serve their world as he did. In 2004, Wheaton College honored him with the William W. Volkman Chair of Business.
Doc had varied interests and many skills. He had his own construction company, building many apartment buildings in Wheaton and Glen Ellyn, several motels and also the first five buildings at Judson College (now University) in Elgin. He was part of a small Bible study that met in his home and became Glenbard Baptist church, and later, Village Green Baptist on Lambert, in Glen Ellyn. He was founder and editor of Union Life (a deeper life Christian magazine, which he gave away free) for 24 years. He wrote two books, The Wink of Faith (1983) a biographical record of his life of faith, and Basking in His Presence (1996), a testimony to his commitment to contemplative prayer. He had an overwhelming compassion for anyone in need, and he helped as many people as he could.
No one could keep up with Doc's energy or interests. He loved gardening, fireworks, tomatoes (eating them until he got canker sores), Cubs games, "chasing" doing errands for himself or someone in need, giving advice, talking to everyone about his Lord, and giving away books, either that he had written or written by someone else. One of his biggest projects was a Christian camp that he constructed, including dredging a large lake and stocking it with fish, and which he ran every summer.
A funeral service will be held at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church at 22W415 Butterfield Road, Glen Ellyn on Saturday, August 15, at 11:00 a.m., followed by a luncheon reception. Private interment of ashes will take place at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, anyone who wishes to honor Doc's life may make a donation in his name to the Salvation Army or to the Glen Ellyn Food Pantry.
Born: June 14, 1925
Died: July 23, 2015
William "Doc" Walter Volkman, 90, a resident of Wheaton, died peacefully Thursday, July 23, 2015, at his home in Wheaton.
William is survived by his wife, Jan Ord Harris; by five children, Vicki (Greg) Janik of Saugatuck, MI, Scott (Claudia) Volkman of North Fort Myers, FL, Robin (Michael) Wilhelm of Aurora, Kim (Don) Schweinberg of Hickory Hills, and Valerie (Rick) DeKam of Kalamazoo, MI; 13 grandchildren, Valerie, Brian, Adam, Shawn, Steve, Lisa, Lindsey, Brett, Kate, Andy, Matt, Bill and Scott; and 11 great-grandchildren, Rachael, Brooke, Gavin, John, Cole, Micah, Cadence, Dylan, Anna, Maddox and Greyson.
His relationship with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren has always been one of mutual admiration, and their "Papa" will be greatly missed.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Marjorie (nee Buchholz) in 2008.
Bill was born in River Forest on June 14, 1925, half an hour after his twin, Ernie (deceased) and seventeen months after his elder brother, Eric Walter (deceased). He attended Oak Park High School, enlisted in the Naval Air Force in 1943, helped train foreign students in navigational skills, and attended Northwestern undergrad and Law School on the GI bill, graduating in 1952 with a JD and as a CPA. He worked as a tax attorney in Chicago for a few years while teaching at Northwestern.
In 1953 he took a position at Wheaton College, where he taught Business Law and Economics for 10 years, earning him the nickname "Doc." He was a passionate and dedicated teacher who inspired many of his students to serve their world as he did. In 2004, Wheaton College honored him with the William W. Volkman Chair of Business.
Doc had varied interests and many skills. He had his own construction company, building many apartment buildings in Wheaton and Glen Ellyn, several motels and also the first five buildings at Judson College (now University) in Elgin. He was part of a small Bible study that met in his home and became Glenbard Baptist church, and later, Village Green Baptist on Lambert, in Glen Ellyn. He was founder and editor of Union Life (a deeper life Christian magazine, which he gave away free) for 24 years. He wrote two books, The Wink of Faith (1983) a biographical record of his life of faith, and Basking in His Presence (1996), a testimony to his commitment to contemplative prayer. He had an overwhelming compassion for anyone in need, and he helped as many people as he could.
No one could keep up with Doc's energy or interests. He loved gardening, fireworks, tomatoes (eating them until he got canker sores), Cubs games, "chasing" doing errands for himself or someone in need, giving advice, talking to everyone about his Lord, and giving away books, either that he had written or written by someone else. One of his biggest projects was a Christian camp that he constructed, including dredging a large lake and stocking it with fish, and which he ran every summer.
A funeral service will be held at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church at 22W415 Butterfield Road, Glen Ellyn on Saturday, August 15, at 11:00 a.m., followed by a luncheon reception. Private interment of ashes will take place at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, anyone who wishes to honor Doc's life may make a donation in his name to the Salvation Army or to the Glen Ellyn Food Pantry.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by Suburban Life Publications on Jul. 30, 2015.
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