Bob Volk, a 1998 Block & Bridle Honoree, Passes Away Friday, December 1, 2023
Bob Volk, a 1998 Block and Bridle honoree, passed away on November 28, at age 85.
Visitation will be from Sunday, December 3, 2023, from 4-7PM at the Washington County Fairgrounds Rybin Building. Funeral service will be Monday, December 4, 2023, at 11 AM with visitation 1 hour prior to funeral service. Memorials may be directed to Washington County Fair, Washington County Cattlemen, and Madison County Fair. Arrangements are with Campbell-Aman Funeral Home in Blair, Neb.
Bob was born in Norfolk, Nebraska to John and Amelia Volk of Battle Creek and was the youngest of six. On the family farm they raised hogs and cattle and grew corn. June 23, 1957, Bob married Jeanette Unkel. He graduated from the University of Nebraska Lincoln in 1959 with an Agriculture Degree. He then went on to work for Colorado Extension Service, Drover’s Journal, and the American Hereford Journal until 1967 when he joined the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben. In his 23 years of Ak-Sar-Ben, which hosted 1.5 million in tourism annually, he served as General Manager for 6 years. Bob grew the 4-H program extensively and started the first intercollegiate evaluation program. Bob and Jeanette traveled to every county in Nebraska, awarding matching funds from Ak-Sar-Ben, for fairground improvements. The livestock show itself grew tremendously, catapulting his career, friendships, and lifetime legacy in the livestock industry.
Other affiliations:
• Board of Directors Thoroughbred Racing Association of America
• Outstanding Alumni Block and Bridle
• Kearney Cattleman’s Classic Founding Executive Director
• President American Livestock Show and Rodeo Managers Association
• American Simmental Association Board Member and Golden Book Recipient, lifetime achievement award
• Numerous boards and associations furthering cattle and 4-H locally and nationally
His love of cattle brought him to many state and county fairs. He also loved serving as a sale consultant. Bob was well recognized, respected and known in the yards of Denver as well as many other national and regional cattle events.
He was preceded in death by parents John (Amelia) Volk, siblings--Willis (Helen Volk) Grant, John (Doris) Volk, Don (Betty Volk) Bierman, Kenneth Volk, Jim (Stella) Volk. He is survived by his wife Jeanette, sons Jay (Kim) Volk, Clark (Leslie) Volk, grand-daughters Claire, Madeline, Kylie and Grace Volk; sister-in-law Josephine Volk.