Jackie R. Volesky

Jackie Ray Volesky was born on that great American holiday, the Fourth of July, 1932, at the home of his parents, John and Pearl Volesky, in rural Oketo, Kan.

For seven and a half years, Jack attended Sunnyside Country School, northeast of Oketo, one mile from his home on the farm. There were always chores for him and his brother, Warren, to do, but they could always find time to fish and catch frogs in a nearby creek.

His first paying job, as a child of 10 years, was cutting sunflowers and cockleburs out of Orb Bigham's cornfield for 75 cents a day.

In 1945, his family moved to Marysville, Kan., and shared the house presently just west of the Methodist Church with the Foltz family, whom his dad worked for. The church grounds at that time were an orchard.

Jack finished the half year of his grade school years at Marysville Elementary and graduated from the eighth grade.

The family then moved to rural Barneston, Neb., where he refused to go his freshman year of school. He literally "walked in one door and out the other." Staying out of school the whole year, he lived with the Pike family, helping with the farming.

After moving back to Oketo in 1946, Jack went his freshman year at Oketo High School, his final year of schooling.

In 1948, he was hired by the section foreman to mow the UPRR right-of-way. On weekends he worked for Ken Griffee, a farmer who became like a father to him. Jack loved cultivating the corn and running the grain truck.

In 1950, at age 18, he hired out on the UPRR in the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Department as a section hand.

In 1952, Jack and two buddies traveled to Modesto, Calif., to join the Air Force, only to find all spots were filled. His draft into the U.S. Army came on Feb. 3, 1953. He took his basic training at Ft. Riley, Kan., prior to being sent overseas.

The truce ending the Korean conflict had been signed as his ship, the Marine Adder, was crossing the International Dateline, destination Sasebo, Japan, in July 1953. He vowed never to sail again after experiencing 18 days of seasickness, along with his buddies.

After arriving in Sasebo, Japan, his company was taken to Pusan, South Korea, then on to Cheju Island in the Yellow Sea, a camp holding Chinese and North Korean POWs. Jack served as a guard there.

Jack was in the 24th Infantry Division, Company I, 19th Regiment. After two months at Cheju, he was put on an LST boat with North Korean prisoners for a prisoner exchange with American soldiers at Incheon, South Korea.

After spending Christmas on Cheju Island, he traveled by train north to the 39th parallel, two miles from the DMZ. He trained there at Camp Yang Gu Valley as a gunner on a 3.5-inch rocket launcher, responsible for the launcher, the assistant gunner, and two ammunition bearers.

After a week of physical training on the beach at Yang Gu, he and others were flown to Yokohama, Japan, for seven days of R&R.

When the company's work was completed at the 39th parallel and replacements had arrived, he was sent to another training camp at Taegu, South Korea, spending his 22nd birthday there.

Two days after having Thanksgiving dinner in Incheon, South Korea, in 1954, he boarded the General John Pope ship and spent another 18 days returning to Seattle Harbor. He was flown to Camp Carson, Colo., and released from active duty as Corporal Jack Volesky on Dec. 17, 1954. He returned to his home in Oketo, later joining the Reserves.

Jack wanted to start farming after he returned, but the bank refused to lend him the money. He returned to his job on the UPRR and worked as a section hand for 36 years, until his retirement in March 1986.

Jack married Shirley Barnhill of Barneston, Neb., on Feb. 25, 1956. They raised two daughters, Christine and Debra. He and Shirley spent their married life in Oketo, Kan. They loved going to flea markets and auctions until Shirley's death on Jan. 21, 2003.

Jack especially liked gardening, raising bucket calves, rat terrier fur babies, John Deere mowers, and "overalls." He was an avid John Deere toy collector and restorer. He was proud of his collection and enjoyed giving away toys to friends.

Jack cared about the well-being of his hometown and was a member of its city council and fire department. He was a woodworking leader of the Balderson Boosters 4-H Club and the caretaker of the Bud Moore home in Oketo for many years. He also did numerous mowing jobs for friends and neighbors. He was a member of American Legion Post 163 in Marysville for 35 years.

Jack and Shirley were members of the Oketo Methodist Church. Following his marriage to Marjorie Gardner on Nov. 13, 2004, at his home, he attended First Baptist Church in Marysville.

He enjoyed trips to Branson, Mo., and Elko, Nev., gardening, and doing yard work with "Margie." Lawrence Welk was a must-watch on Saturday evenings.

Unfortunately, an unsuccessful knee surgery in 2010 took its toll. It prohibited him from standing for long periods and later prevented him from doing any physical work, a difficult period in his life both physically and emotionally.

Never regaining his strength and zest for life, Jack passed away on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at his home. He was buried at the Barneston, Neb., Cemetery on Friday, July 3, 2026.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Pearl Volesky Herring; brother, Warren; sisters, Rosalie Roady and Sharon Albert; and half-sisters, Linda Jorgenson and Dona Herring.

He is survived by his wife, Marjorie; sister, Joan Klozenbucher of Greenleaf; half-sister, Becky Butler of Marysville; daughters, Christine (Frances) L'Ecuyer of Haddam and Debra (Steve) Slupianek of Marysville; grandchildren, Amelia (Josh) Rhodes and Hayden L'Ecuyer; two great-grandchildren, Michael and Eleanor Rhodes; stepsons, Terry (Arissara) Stanbrough of West Palm Beach, Fla., and Mark Stanbrough of Brenton, Ala.; step-grandchildren, Houston, Devan, and Paige; two step-great-grandchildren, Jaxen and Nolin; brothers-in-law, Gale (Karen) Barnhill and John Osborne; and sister-in-law, Lorene Brown.

Kinsley Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.