Elsie Irene (Peters) Volkmann of De Pere, WI, passed away on July 16, 2023, in Green Bay, WI, at age 95. She was the last surviving child out of the 10 children of Marie (Conradi) and William L. Peters. She was born on March 10, 1928, in Prince County, Wisconsin. Her mother died when she was three and she went into foster care during the Great Depression and during War World II. On June 16, 1951, she married a sailor, William R. Volkmann in Milwaukee, WI and lived on many US Naval bases including Yokosuka, Japan. Their final duty station was at the Philadelphia Navy Yard where they bought a house in nearby Woodbury, NJ in 1967.
While living in Woodbury, Elsie worked for the New Jersey Bell Telephone Company as a telephone operator until retirement. She was active with the Telephone Pioneers of America and the Fleet Reserve Association. After retirement, they moved back to Wisconsin, in 1986, to be in the Green Bay area while continuing to travel around the country until her husband’s passing in 1999. Elsie lived in De Pere, WI, with her daughter Sharon.
Elsie is survived by her four children: Shelia M. (Chris) Jones of Strasburg, PA, Richard A. (Robin) Volkmann of Sequim, WA, Sharon A. Volkmann of De Pere, WI, and Carin L. (Dwayne) Gartner of Millville, NJ, and by her 7 grandchildren; Benjamin, Christopher, Eleanor, Elise, Mark, Matthew, Tracy, and 12 great grandchildren; Abby, Andrew, Anthony, Emmelyn, Ethan, Grace, Jackson, Jocelyn, Jordyn, Julian, Peter, Rylan, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Elsie’s cremated remains will be interred at Middle Octorara Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Quarryville, PA. Online condolences may be expressed at www.prokowall.com.