Alfred Voelker, 82

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. —  Alfred Ernest Voelker, 82, of North Adams, died on Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington, VT.

Al was born in Jamaica, New York on March 15, 1942, the son of the late Ernest and Minna (Gross) Voelker. He attended schools in Queens, New York and graduated from H. Frank Carey High School, where he was an active player on the school’s baseball team.

A proud and decorated veteran of the United States Air Force during the peacetime era, Al was stationed at Ramey Air Force base in Puerto Rico as well as at Westover AFB in Massachusetts. Al retired from Butler Wholesale in Adams, Mass. where he was employed as a food salesman, covering a large section of Western Massachusetts. He was an active member of the North Adams YMCA, where he was a dedicated racquetball player, affectionally known as “Racquetball Al” getting on the courts several times a week with a close group of friends. He began wintering in Arizona in 2011 and was very active on the pickleball court where he would get out in the early morning hours to beat the hot sun.

Al had a lifelong passion for photography and was an award winning photographer in Western Mass and Arizona. He enjoyed nothing more than spending time with his friend Donna exploring and searching for just the right place to capture the perfect photo whether it was in the Arizona Desert, at Stanley Park in Westfield, Mass or right here at home with our mountains and lakes as his backdrop. His character portraits, particularly those of cowboys, deserved an exhibit of their own.

Most of all, Al loved the simple pleasure of spending quality time with his family and beloved friend Donna. He tried to get everyone together as often as possible. In the summer his family would travel the distance from Virginia, New Jersey and Mattapoisett to his annual summer party in the backyard of his home to indulge in great food and camaraderie along with an evening campfire. At Christmas he wanted everyone to come home for his Christmas party which always featured a nearly life-size mechanical Santa that talked and danced and enthralled his young grandchildren. Most recently he loved taking a nap in his sunroom, or perhaps sitting in his backyard watching the birds and listening to their song.

Al married Peggy Ann (Rueb) on August 11, 1962, in Franklin Square, NY. Peggy passed away in 1997. Al leaves his son, Alfred S. Voelker, (Suzanne), of Westampton, NJ and his four daughters; Susan Therrien, (Michael), of North Adams; Barbara LaBonte, (Mark), of North Adams; Cathy Howe, (Jim), of Clarksburg; and Peggy Hewitt (Carlton), of Forest, Virginia. He also leaves eleven grandchildren: Stephanie, Katelyn and Kelly Therrien, Megan and Ryan Voelker, Molly and Natalie Howe, Jared, Emily and Andrew Labonte, and Nicholas and Ashley Hewitt. Three great grandchildren: Londyn and Lylah Cruse and RJ Voelker, his nephew Donald Voelker (Jean) and his niece Nancy Tennant (Dan) all of Florida. He also leaves behind his longtime companion, Donna Herman, of Westfield, MA. and her two daughters Kara and Tracey Herman. Al was predeceased by his brother, Ralph Voelker and sister-in-law Janet Voelker.

FUNERAL NOTICE: Al’s family invites friends and family to attend calling hours on Thursday December 12, 2024 from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM at FLYNN & DAGNOLI-MONTAGNA HOME FOR FUNERALS WEST CHAPELS, 521 West Main St. North Adams, MA. Funeral Services will follow at 1:00 PM at Sherman Burbank Memorial Chapel at 1:00 PM. Burial with full military honors will follow in Eastlawn cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the J. Michael Kennedy Williamstown American Legion in care of the funeral home. To add to the Book of Memories, please visit www.flynndagnolifuneralhomes.com.