Orville “Orv” Volkmann, 94, of Frederic, Wisconsin, passed away in peace on Jan. 12, 2024.
Orv was born on Feb. 7, 1929, in Wilmette, Illinois, the son of Alexander and Manila (Mueller) Volkmann. He grew up in (fondly known as) Nord East, Minneapolis. His childhood held memories of hunting, fishing, trapping and working at Max’s, the corner grocery store. Orv met our mom at Circle B Ranch and, being the good-looking wrangler, he took her out on a trail ride one more time and then went on to a rodeo that night. They were married and that marriage lasted 53-1/2 years.
He started his life career working for Chicago Northwestern Railroad and then on to Western Electric. His final step was creating, along with mom, The Brass Bell, a Pet ‘n Saddle Shop in Wayzata, Minnesota. Nearing retirement status he also became the manager and groundskeeper for the Twin Cities Polo Club in Maple Plain for eight years. In 1987 he was awarded the honor of the Minnesota Horse Council Horseman of the Year, highlighting his helping hand with 4-H, the Hamel Trail Duster Saddle Club and the parent association, Western Saddle Club Association. When near his retirement, he and mom moved to Frederic. They purchased a small house on 40 acres of thick woods and here he was absolutely in his glory. Always a worker, he never was bored. He took on a job with the “Hole in the Wall” Casino in Danbury, Wisconsin, and went up the ranks to become their top security enforcement supervisor for the casino. He was well thought of to be the guy who could talk down any altercation and used one of his many mantras “kill ‘em with kindness.” All during this time he was also taking classes to become a first responder. Retirement once again repeated itself and he turned to cutting down trees. He would cut them down with his first chain saw, that will be buried with him, and then would drag them in with his trusty four-wheeler. Orv would then cut and split the wood to sell for a modest amount. He became very popular in the area for his excellent stacking and selling of quality wood to burn and also his stories.
Orv was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Gert; infant daughter, Susan Lee; son-in-law, Timm Freeman; brother, David; and one of his last dogs, Wolf.
Orv is survived by daughters, Karen (Ron) Clark and Jill Freeman; son, John (Tricia) Volkmann; step-grandson, Brandon Welch; also through the years, many fishing cronies, hunting associates and his NASCAR buddies; Shadow his last dog and companion; Kit Kat (the ferrel cat who with his patience became the garage/outside cat) and Spike the house cat.
Funeral services for Orv will be held Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024, at noon with visitation beginning at 11 a.m., all at the Historic Fort Snelling Memorial Chapel, 1 Tower Avenue, Fort Snelling, MN 55111. Interment will be held Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024, at 2 p.m. at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The family and host of friends request memorials be given to the MS Society and specifically directed to the MS River Road Run in Orv’s name. If preferred, flowers can be sent through Buffalo Floral, as they are among his friends also. Arrangements were entrusted to The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo, Minnesota.
