Submitted by Dan Rich

Vollmer, Elmer L.

Nov. 20, 1920 - Jan. 4, 2008

South Bend Tribune 1/5/2008

DOWAGIAC - Elmer L. Vollmer, 87 passed away on Friday. Elmer's life began on Nov. 20, 1920, in South Bend, the son of Oscar J. and Lenora (Beaver) Vollmer. He was a 1939 graduate of Central High School in South Bend. Elmer proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy Air Corps during World War II.

He was united in marriage to the former Thera Gooley in Mishawaka on June 25, 1949. Elmer worked as a sheet metal worker out of Local 20 in South Bend for many years. He was a member of the VFW Post in Decatur and was an avid supporter of assisting homeless veterans. He organized coat drives for the veterans served by the Battle Creek VA Medical Center for a number of years. Elmer was a volunteer kitchen worker at the Cass County Council on Aging and a parishioner at Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church. His loving family includes his children, Nancy and her husband, Tim, McDonald of Sister Lakes, Susan Vollmer of Dowagiac, Mark and his wife, Deborah, Vollmer of Bridgman and James and his wife, Donna, Vollmer of Sister Lakes; his grandchildren, Michael, Phillip, Erin and Lenora; and great-grandson, Brady Vollmer. He is survived by a sister, Minnie Dell Rodts of Florida; a brother, Ralph Vollmer of South Bend; and several nieces and nephews. Elmer passed away at his home on Friday, Jan. 4, 2008. He is preceded in death by his wife, Thera in 2005; and brothers, Charles, Oscar and William Vollmer.

His family will receive friends on Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. in McLauchlin-Clark Funeral Home, where the Rosary will be recited at 4:30 p.m., by Deacon Frank Wesolowski. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday at 11 a.m. by Father Carl Peltz at Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Dowagiac. He will be laid to rest in Sacred Heart Cemetery with full military honors. Memorial contributions in his name may be directed to the Battle Creek VA.