Deborah Volker

Deborah M Volker, 72, of Lansing, IA, died Thursday, December 22, 2022, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon, IA. Memorial services will be held at a later date at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Lansing. Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home in Lansing is handling arrangements.

Deborah Margaret Ann Volker was born August 19, 1950, in Waverly, IA, the daughter of Francis Carroll and Marcella (Kramer) Cagley. She was baptized and confirmed at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Waterloo, IA, and graduated from East High School in Waterloo in 1968. On August 18, 1972, Deb married Kim Volker at St. Nicholas Parish in Evansdale, IA.

Deb fell in love with the Mississippi River area of Northeast Iowa and in 1986, she, Kim, and their three children moved to Lansing, IA. Besides being able to go fishing on the river whenever she wanted, Deb loved living near Mt. Hosmer as well. As an active member of the community, Deb served on the Lansing City Council and on the Kee High School Board and was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, where she loved teaching 1 ^st and 6 ^th grade CCD classes. She also worked as a cook at the RivAire, a custodian for the Eastern Allamakee School District, and at Blumenthal Lansing Button Company. In 2011, Deb retired to become a full-time grandma.

Reading, playing trivia, and writing letters to her kids while they were in high school and college were some of her favorite activities. Deb was an artsy person and liked coloring and crafting. As the rock of the family, she was very devoted to her husband and family, did foster care for several years, and was an amazing baker and cook. You were never a stranger at her home and Deb always made sure you got a hug and meal while there. To her kids and their friends, she was called "Mama Deb" and was the strongest person they knew. Deb loved Christmas and used to work two or three jobs or overtime to make sure her family always had a Christmas. Fittingly, that's when God decided to call her home.

She is survived by her three children: Joshua (Amanda) Volker of Clinton, IA, Samantha Volker of Lansing, and Amanda (John) Gallagher of La Crosse, WI; six grandchildren: Pryce, Jaxon, Jovi, Ashton, Piper, and Nova; one sister Vicky Cagley of Evansdale, IA; three brothers: Bill (Bonnie) of Rosemount, MN, Mike (Deb) of Brandon, IA, and Thomas (Cindy) Cagley of Cedar Falls, IA; and a half sister Mary Merfeld Ramsden of Cedar Rapids, IA.

Deb was preceded in death by her parents; stepmother Verna Cagley; a granddaughter Lily; and her husband Kim on October 5, 2022.