Deroyce Gene Volzke

Deroyce Gene Volzke, of Seward, was born on July 19, 1942 to Harold and Edith (Ritterbush) Volzke in York, Nebraska.  He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith.  Deroyce and his twin brother, Aloyce, grew up on a farm in Utica, Nebraska.  He helped his father farm and raise livestock.  As a teen he participated in baseball and basketball.  He also sang and played guitar.  He enjoyed going to weekend dances and playing tricks with his identical twin.  He graduated from Utica High School in 1960.  He served proudly in the United States Army from November 3, 1960 to September 30, 1968.  While enlisted, he assisted with military honors at funerals and became interested in Mortuary Science.  On June 12, 1965, Deroyce was united in marriage to Leora Mueller at St. John Lutheran Church in Seward, Nebraska.  Together they were blessed with 4 children.  Deroyce attended Concordia Teachers College in Seward and graduated from San Francisco College of Mortuary Science in 1966.  He started Volzke Ambulance Service in 1971.  In 1972, Deroyce opened Volzke Mortuary in Seward, Nebraska where he worked until his retirement in 2016.    Deroyce was an active member of the Seward community.  He was a member and president of the Izaak Walton League, Seward Chamber of Commerce, Jaycees and Seward Kiwanis Club.  He was a volunteer firefighter in Seward for 45 years and a 15-year member of Utica American Legion Post #49. He enjoyed singing with the KiTones and served on numerous boards at St. John Lutheran Church.  Deroyce especially loved spending time with his family.  Some of his greatest memories were from family vacations to Mexico and fishing trips to Canada with his son, sons-in-law and grandsons.  He enjoyed playing cards several times a month.  He enjoyed hunting, fishing, woodworking, taxidermy and being active outdoors.  Everyone knew Deroyce.  He loved visiting, teasing and telling jokes. He could do no wrong in his grandchildren’s eyes.  He spent his last 2 ½ years living at the Greene Place assisted living community in Seward.  He hated it at first and referred to it as “jail”, but the complaints stopped after a few months.  He loved the staff that cared for him and hopefully they enjoyed his daily harassment.  Deroyce passed away on November 14, 2021 at the age of 79 years, 3 months and 26 days in Lincoln, Nebraska.  He is survived by his children, Jill (Tony) Feliz, Pueblo, Colorado, Jeff (Kirsten) Volzke, Seward, Nebraska, Joy (Jon) Olsen, Lincoln, Nebraska, Jane (Chad) Schaefer, Lincoln, Nebraska; grandchildren, Alyssa Feliz (fiancé, Mitch Crosby), Makenna Volzke, Abby Olsen, Ashley Feliz, Jaden Volzke, Sienna Schaefer, Antonio Feliz, Ashtyn Olsen, Saylor Schaefer, Andrew Olsen, Olivia Volzke, Sam Schaefer and Arynn Olsen; a host of family and friends.  Deroyce was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Edith Volzke; wife, Leora Volzke; brother and sister-in-law, Aloyce and Pam Volzke; nephew, Derek Volzke.   

CASKET BEARERS - Jill Feliz, Jeff Volzke, Joy Olsen, Jane Schaefer, Jaden Volzke, Antonio Feliz, Andrew Olsen, Sam Schaefer

 HONORARY CASKET BEARERS - Doug Volzke, Clelland Tonniges, Maurice Zwick, Richard Mailand, Dick Stillahn, Tim Nuttleman

FULL MILITARY HONORS - UTICA AMERICAN LEGION POST #49

MEMORIALS IN CARE OF ST. JOHN LUTHERAN CHURCH, SEWARD COUNTY VETERANS FOR TRANSPORTATION SERVICES OR UTICA AMERICAN LEGION POST #49.

If you cannot attend the service we invite you to worship with us by live streaming on YouTube "St. John Seward Live stream".

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