"I loved having Dr. Volker as a professor. I remember him showing a video (vhs, of course) :) of his granddaughter Clara learning the logo programming language! He was very patient and knowledgeable and was certainly a "jack of all trades!" He had a gentle way of teaching and interacting with students and his humor was top notch! In fact, I remember him saying "TOP NOTCH" quite a bit. Great memories with an amazing man. I am blessed to have been able to know him as a professor and a friend. RIP Roger! "
In loving memory of
Roger Volker
November 3, 1934 - November 9, 2014
Roger Volker, 80, of Ames died at the Israel Family Hospice House on Sunday November 9, 2014. A visitation will be from 5-7:00 p.m. Monday, November 17, 2014 at Collegiate United Methodist Church/Wesley Foundation 2622 W. Lincoln Way Ames, Iowa (In the fireside room). A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, Nov 18, 2014 at his church.
Roger Paul Volker was born in Chicago, Illinois on November 3, 1934, the son of Paul O. Volker and Clarabel Louise (Rinehimer) Volker. After going to 7 different schools in 7 cities by 2nd grade, the family moved to Fort Dodge, Iowa where he completed public school, graduating in 1952.
A person with many interests and talents, Roger had a chemistry set in the basement while in grade school and retained that interest throughout college, broadening it to Distributed Studies prior to graduation from Iowa State University in 1956. Roger married Carol Bennett in 1957. Following graduation he worked for the University of Kansas giving school assembly programs on Hammond organs throughout the Midwest before beginning his teaching career in science at Estherville High School. He later taught chemistry, zoology and botany at Webster City Junior College.
While an undergraduate, Volker played piano and organ and co-owned a small band "The Seven Sharps", which paid for his own undergraduate education. He sustained this interest and was well known throughout his life playing piano, accordion, and organ solo and in combos. He played organ music in the summertime for horse shows throughout the Midwest for 23 years, including for several years the Iowa State Fair horseshow.
Roger received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees from Iowa State University. While pursuing advanced degrees, Roger was employed as the botanical technician in the production of single-concept films by Iowa State's Film Production Unit (Basicladia and Marchantia were favorite organisms). This resulted in an interest in educational media and instructional technology, which led to his being hired to establish and direct the Instructional Resources Center in the College of Education, a laboratory for students in teacher education to gain experience in the application of technology to K-12 education. He received his Ph.D. and served as a professor in that college for 30 years before he and his wife retired from the university in 1997.
He was author or co-author of several textbooks--a high school biology text and a book for training future biology teachers, in addition to a series of educational media textbooks. He also received numerous teaching awards during his career at Iowa State University, including a Faculty Citation and an Outstanding Teacher Award. He was honored in 2010 when a room in Lagomarcino Hall was named "The Roger P. Volker Experimental Technology Classroom."
Throughout his life he was active in a number of community organizations, such as Kiwanis, Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity House Corporation Board, and Old Town Neighborhood Association, as well as serving in a wide variety of positions at Collegiate United Methodist Church/Wesley Foundation in Ames.
He loved to drive antique cars, and his name and cars were well known in Ames and Central Iowa. Almost every autumn for several years, he and Carol could be seen in one of the cars traveling through Iowa on the adventure called Motor Ioway. He exhibited all of his antique cars at one time or another at the annual Salisbury House event.
He is survived by his wife, Carol; son Paul and wife Barbara Gaddis of Boone, Iowa and their children Anne (Mike) Hughes and Clara Volker; son Christopher and his fiancée Linda Kitterman, of Moline, Illinois; son Timothy and wife Kate of Brenchley, England and their children Robert Eldon and Patrick Henry; and sister, Judith Hahn of Des Moines, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant grandson, Owen Paul Volker, and a daughter-in-law, Lynn Prosser Volker.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given to Collegiate United Methodist Church/Wesley Foundation, Israel Family Hospice House, or the Pi Kappa Alpha Scholarship Fund at the Iowa State University Foundation.
On line condolences may be directed to: www.grandonfuneralandcremationcare.com.
Tributes
" will try again to send my condolenses. know you have been CINSTANT CARE GIVER THESE LAST DAYS, AND MONTHS. WAS AMAZED AND IMPRESSED WITH ROGER'S ACHEIVEMENTS. VERY GLAD TO HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH YOU ALL AND cLARABELL. "
"Roger was a lively creative man that I admired very much. His raw talent to play music in many forms but especially the piano was amazing. His wit accompanied his musical talent. There was always an interesting twist in his music. No matter what hymn was being sung he could always wiggle the ISU Fight Song into it somehow. Rest in peace Roger!"
"Carol and family, I was saddened to hear about Roger's death. I thoroughly enjoyed having him as a colleague in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. His enjoyment of life and people made everyone smile!"
"Roger was the consummate leader of the little MotorIoway Band on our annual old car tours. The Tour never really started without Roger beginning with some lively music. Even though we are from Texas we had a connection with Roger through our Aunts, Dr. Florence Falgatter and Dr. Pearl Swanson at ISU. Roger knew both ladies who were so special to our family.
We know he is so missed by family and friends. He lightened and brightened the lives of so many. God Bless and God Speed Roger!! "
"As a young kid, I remember being in Iowa from Maryland for Christmas. Of course there was snow- a big event for us.
It was soon after Carol and Roger were married. Roger had a reel-to-reel tape recorder which he used to record the ceremony. (Back then tape recorders were very high tech! Roger always had the latest electronic technology).
Anyhow, we listened to the recorded ceremony all the way until it got to the 'I do's'. We heard Carol speak, but when it was Roger's turn, he shouted out 'I do'. He wouldn't let us hear his voice on tape.
I course, I also remember riding down a major street in Ames in his yellow convertible. It was neat to be so cool! "
"Condolences to the Volker Family from the Historic Old Town Neighborhood Association of Ames. Roger was such an important part of our group! He will be sorely missed."
"I will miss you Papa :)!"