Charles Volesky

Funeral Mass for Charles J. Volesky, 86, of Dickinson will be 10:00 a. m. , Saturday, January 29, 2011 at St. Patrick?s Catholic Church with Father Todd Kreitinger celebrating. Military Rites will be provided by the Dickinson Honor Guard. Burial will be 1:00 p. m. , CST Monday, January 31, 2011 at North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan. Visitation for Charles will be from 9:00 a. m. to 9:00 p. m. , Friday, January 28, 2011 at Stevenson Funeral Home with a Rosary & Vigil Service being held at 7:00 p. m. Charles passed away Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at St. Joseph?s Hospital and Health Center in Dickinson. Charles Jerome Volesky was born August 29, 1924 on the family farm in Billings County, the son of Joseph and Mary (Karsky) Volesky. The family then moved to a farm north of Dickinson in Dunn County. Charles attended Sts. Peter & Paul School in New Hradec and later graduated from Dickinson High School. In June of 1943, Charles enlisted in the United States Army. After basic training, he was assigned to the Coast Artillery as a Research Light Operator in Fort Bliss, Texas and went on to receive advanced training while attached to the Army Air Corps in Orlando, FL. He was then sent to the Pacific Theatre of Operations in the Ryukus Islands, on the Islands of Okinawa and Ie Shima and remained there until the war ended. A highlight that he never forgot was the landing of the Japanese Advance Surrender Team on Ie Shima before advancing on to Manilla to meet General MacArthur. From Ie Shima he was sent to San Francisco and received an honorable discharge in April 1946 at Ft. Lewis, Washington. After his military service, Charles attended Dickinson State College for a period of two years. In March of 1948, he accepted the position of Field Man with the Billings County PMA. On July 23, 1951, Charles married the love of his life, Patricia Mary Roth at St. Bernard?s Catholic Church in Belfield, ND. Together they raised their four children, Valery, Mark, Vaune and Jill. Charles later became the Manager of the Billings County Office until his transfer to Farmers Home Administration in July of 1954. In August of 1957, Charles was appointed as the Executive Director of the Stark County ASCS office until his retirement in 1983. While employed with the ASCS, Charles was a charter member and organizer of the State Association of ASCS County Office Employees, served as State President for two years as well as a delegate at national conventions in Iowa and Columbus, Ohio. Charles was a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Catholic Workman, the Knights of Columbus and the Queen City Toastmasters. As a Toastmaster, he served as President for one year. His involvement in the Knights of Columbus included serving as Grand Knight and District Deputy as well as being a member the Knights of Columbus 4th Degree serving as Faithful Navigator. Following retirement, Charles and Patricia worked for the Soil Conservation Service as tree planters in Stark and Billings counties, planting over 300 miles of shelterbelts. Following the tree planting season each spring, he was then employed as a crop adjuster for the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation for seven years until his health failed him. Charles was an active member of St. Patrick?s Catholic Church in Dickinson. He served on various committees and parish councils including Parish Trustee. Charles was also one of the first members to be appointed as Lecturer, Reader and Eucharistic Minister. Charles received various awards during his lifetime, including numerous ?Certificates of Merit? from the U. S. Department of Agriculture, ?Soil Conservation Society of America? for Promotion and Accomplishments in the field of Soil Conservation, 1981-1982, Knights of Columbus Council 1515 Family of the Year, 1996 North Dakota Catholic Family of the Year 1st Runner Up, 1994 Certificate of Recognition of ?Who?s Who in North Dakota?. Family was always very important to Charles. He was a father figure to his brothers and sisters. He also loved and cherished his children, his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Charles had a very deep, unshakable faith with his church and God. To his family he was known as the gadget guy and couldn?t wait to learn how to run the computer and navigate the internet. He enjoyed fishing especially at Lake Sakakawea holding the state record walleye for several years. His farmer friends and neighbors were also a very important part of Charles life, helping them out through his work and friendship. Charles is survived by his wife, Patricia; son Mark (Vickie) Volesky of Lake Park, MN; daughters, Valery (Dave) Campbell of Riverton, WY, Vaune (Jack) Cripe of Dickinson and Jill (Jay) Reddon of Riverton, WY; six brothers, Joseph (Linda) Volesky of Rapid City, SD, Edwin (Irene) Volesky of Dickinson, William (Marcia) Volesky of Littleton, CO, Tony (Bev) Volesky of Dickinson, Alfred (Cele) Volesky of Helena, MT, and Francis (Sue) Volesky of Warrensburg, MO; four sisters, Ella Sadowsky of Dickinson, Dorothy (Herman) Hauck of Billings, MT, Marion (Ben) Weigel of Bismarck and Bridgit (Tom) Glaser of Dickinson; five grandchildren, B. J. (Sara) Cripe, Haylee Cripe, Ryan Campbell, Meagan Reddon and John Reddon and two great-grandchildren, Jaxon and Cooper. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Mary Volesky; one brother, Robert J. Volesky; one sister-in-law, Betty Volesky and two brother-in-laws, Bob Sadowsky and Ray Froehlich. The family suggests memorials to The Dickinson Catholic Schools, 810 Empire Road, Dickinson, ND 58601.


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Burial Date: January 29, 2011
Funeral Home Dickinson, ND

Funeral Mass: Saturday: St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Dickinson, ND