George R. Voll

George Richard Voll, age 78, of Eau Claire, passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 27, 2014, surrounded by family members, and under their loving care at his home after a brief illness with cancer. He was born on July 12, 1936, a record setting hot day (110 degrees), as he so often told those asking his birthdate; the only child of George and Ceilia (Ottum) Voll. George attended St. Patrick’s grade school and was a 1954 graduate of Regis High School. He attended Wisconsin State College-Eau Claire briefly and then enlisted in the U.S. Navy in December 1956. He served aboard the naval aircraft carrier, USS Essex for an around the world cruise. He was honorably discharged in 1958. He returned to Wisconsin State College-Eau Claire, graduating in 1962, with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and History. George married Jane Messerschmidt on January 31, 1968. George worked in sales for General Mills in Green Bay and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. He was transferred to Minneapolis to work in advertising and promotions with General Mills. George always hoped to return to his home town and the family did so in November of 1978, when they returned to Eau Claire to care for his mother. He was briefly employed at Uniroyal and then with the U.S. Postal Service until his retirement in July of 1998. George was a comedian; he had an original, wry, creative sense of humor and loved to tell a joke or a funny story. Though his memory continued to fade in recent years, his sense of humor and wit remained strongly intact. He was very musical and loved to sing and dance. He discovered how much he loved performing when he received thunderous applause after singing the Marine Corps Hymn at the Northern States Power Company Christmas party at age 5 in 1942. In his younger days he had an encyclopedic knowledge of football and baseball statistics and trivia. He was an avid Green Bay Packers and Wisconsin Badgers fan. Had his health permitted he would have loved to watch his grandchildren at all of their sports activities. George was so very proud of his sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren. George is survived by his wife Jane; sons, Jim (Janelle) Voll of Minneapolis, MN and Tom (Sara) Voll of Prior Lake, MN; three grandchildren, Luke, Bryn and Gabriella; brothers-in-law, Jim (Janie) Messerschmidt and Jeff (Dawn) Messerschmidt; along with many cousins. George was preceded in death by his parents, George and Ceilia Voll; and his parents-in-law, Marvin and Elizabeth Messerschmidt. The family would like to thank Dr. Daniel Kincaid and the Cardiac Center staff of the Mayo Clinic Health System for their over 30 years of cardiac care for George and the Mayo Clinic Home Health and Hospice for his recent care. Visitation will be held on Thursday December 4, 2014, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Lenmark Gomsrud Linn Funeral Home, 814 First Ave. Eau Claire. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 322 Fulton St. Eau Claire, on December 5, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. with a visitation one hour prior to the Mass at church. Father George Thayilkuzhithottu will be officiating. In lieu of flowers the family prefers memorials be given to the L.E. Philips Senior Center, 1616 Bellinger St, Mayo Clinic Home Health and Hospice, or the L.E. Philips Memorial Public Library, 400 Eau Claire St. To express condolences on line please visit obituaries at www.lenmarkfh.com

Service Information

Visitation

Thursday, December 4 2014
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral & Cremation Services
814 First Avenue
Eau Claire WI 54703

Visitation

Friday, December 5 2014
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

St. Patrick's Catholic Church
322 Fulton Street
Eau Claire WI 54703

Mass of Christian Burial

Friday, December 5 2014
10:00 AM

St. Patrick's Catholic Church
322 Fulton Street
Eau Claire WI 54703