JoAnn Irene Volk

JoAnn (Johanna) Irene Volk, the daughter of Bernard and Rose (Ripplinger) Wentz, was born on May 9, 1937 in Pierce County (Esmond area), North Dakota. She died at the age of 83 years on Saturday, January 16, 2021 at the Lutheran Home of the Good Shephard in New Rockford, North Dakota. JoAnn was raised in the home of her parents and received her education in a country school in Rosedale Township. On June 18, 1956, she was united in marriage to Peter M. Volk at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Esmond, North Dakota. They made their home in Tunbridge, where they raised their two children. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and homemaker. She worked at the Towner Forestry for a brief time and then worked 30+ years as a CNA at the Good Samaritan Hospital, Haaland Home and a nursing home in Caldwell, Kansas. She especially loved caring for the elderly. Even after retiring, she continued caring for family, friends, and neighbors. She and Pete always had a huge garden, and they would share the produce, homemade canned pickles, beets, tomatoes, salsa, jelly, etc., plus homemade sausage, head cheese and much more. Pete died on April 25, 2012. JoAnn was a member of the Little Flower Catholic Church in Rugby and the Confraternity of Christian Mothers. She loved to sing, it was not uncommon to hear her singing around the house, in the car, at work with the resident, just all over. There always seemed to be a song inside that wanted to come out. She liked all the old country music, especially Patsy Cline and Hank Williams Sr. She loved being with her family and telling stories about her childhood on the farm. JoAnn is survived by her children, Deb (Mike) Black and Dean Volk, all of Rugby; grandchildren, Alan (Nicole) Black of Devils Lake, Neil Black of Surrey, Renee Black of Las Vegas, NV, Michelle Black of Fargo, Stacy (Riley) Allard of Willow City, Sarah (Kyle) Shively of Pleasant Lake and Shayne Volk of Towner; 11 great grandchildren; brothers, Joe (Sandy) Wentz of Bismarck and Gordon (LaDonna) Wentz of Sartell, MN; sisters, Beatrice Hager of New Rockford, Pauline Wentz of Bismarck, Bernice Martel of Bismarck and Gloriann Gaarder of Valley City; nieces, nephews; other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Peter; three siblings in childhood, Carl, Anthony and Anna Wentz; three infant grandchildren, Joseph, John and Mary Black; a brother-in-law, Romaldus Hager and her parents. Mass of Christian burial will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, January 23 at Little Flower Catholic Church in Rugby with burial in the church cemetery. Father Anthony Cruz, Celebrant. Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the church. COVID-19 restrictions are still to be followed. To view the livestream, please click on the link to our YouTube page. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHS6R8jPKE-ZUrbZt8OVOcA?