August 29, 1924 ~ January 9, 2012
Lois May Biggerstaff Volavka, 87, passed away on January 9, 2012 at Elm Grove Estates in Hutchinson, KS. She was born an only child to Harmon and Thelma Ransom Biggerstaff in Grant County, Oklahoma. She was a graduate from Caldwell High School, the class of 1943.
Lois met Henry Volavka when he talked a friend who was dating her roommate into taking him along for a blind date. Henry and Lois were married June 3, 1946 in Arkansas City, KS, one month after Henry returned from serving in the U.S. Army during WWII. To their union two sons and a daughter were born.
Lois and Henry Volavka lived on a farm 13 miles northwest of Caldwell until their retirement in 1982 when they moved to Caldwell. During those years on the farm, she was an excellent homemaker who had the cleanest floors and clothes and the best cooking. She enjoyed the huge Volavka family and learned to cook many Czech meals and desserts from them. Many teased that Henry was a dirt and grease magnet so that meant she would have to work extra hard to get his clothes clean. Her son, Steve, would always complain to her that she got his high school football uniform too clean and it looked like he never played hard, which he did. She missed Steve so much because they were very close.
Lois was a 4-H cooking instructor, a member of the Sunflower Social Club, and she loved to play cards especially with a pinochle card group in which she belonged. She and Henry also loved to bowl and dance.
Some of her son Ronnie’s friends from Tulsa had permission to hunt near Caldwell and would always stop at Lois’ house to have kolaches. She knew they were coming each year and they called in advanced hoping she would make them some because they loved them so much. And she always did. The early morning phone calls from Ronnie was something she looked forward to every Sunday. She missed those calls when Ronnie passed away, but her granddaughter, Shona, would call very often, which helped replace the calls she missed so much. You could see the excitement when she shared her phone calls with others. She also will never forget her grandson, Trae and his friend John, coming to Caldwell to let her see her new great-granddaughter, Anikah, for the first time. Lois was so proud to see her but could not believe he drove all the way from Tulsa taking care of the baby himself. She always said he and his wife, Bria, are such good parents for their girls.
She moved to Hutchinson in 2008 to be near her daughter, Judy. She would always tell everyone “Judy is all I have left of my family, and I really am glad I have her to be here for me.” She loved her trips to Walmart and eating out afterwards. Her grandson, Chad made sure to give her Walmart gift cards for Christmas, her birthday, and any other occasions possible. Amber, her granddaughter gave up her prized metal shelves which fit just right to help supply her Grandma’s apartment at Elm Grove. Lois was so happy to have them to put up all the pictures of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and could not believe Amber gave them up for her. Lois stated how much she enjoyed the visit from her grandchildren.
Lois was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Henry in 2002, and two sons Steven in 1970 and Ronald in 2008. She is survived by her daughter, Judy and her husband Brian Archer of Hutchinson, and her daughter-in-law, Nancy, of Tulsa. Lois also leaves behind four grandchildren, Amber Archer of Manhattan, Chad Archer and his wife, Julie of Bel Aire, Shona Scott and her husband Danny, Trae Volavka and his wife Bria all of Tulsa, OK. Lois delighted in her great-grandchildren, Sheridan and Anikah Volavka, Avery and Aaron Scott, all of Tulsa, OK, and Brittany Archer of Bel Aire.
Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at the Schaeffer Mortuary Chapel.
Memorials may be given in memory of Lois to the Czechoslovakian Cemetery.
Interment will be in the Czechoslovakian Cemetery, Caldwell, Kansas.
Leave Condolences
Condolences
Roger Lungren
Family and Friends - 01/09/2012
Henry and Lois Volovka were our neighbors during my "growing up" years. They were hard working people who cared about their family and each other.
It is sad to realize that they are both gone---they were good people. Our condolences to their "kids" and their families.
Roger
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Wilma L. Jelinek, Rw and Donna McKee , Anthony, Ks
Family and Friends - 01/09/2012
We are so sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your families.
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Jerry and Marilyn (Lungren) Houlden
Family and Friends - 01/09/2012
I would "ditto" Roger's comment above. Henry, Lois, and family were part of the Hahn community. I think you kids were closer to Linda, Virginia, and David's age. Steve, who met an untimely death may have been a classmate of David's, in fact.
Our condolences to each of the family members.
Sincerely,
Marilyn and Jerry
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Lina Fiola
Family and Friends - 01/10/2012
Dear Brian & Family:
Sorry to hear about your mother-in-law. Can't believe that we were just talking about her when you were here yesterday.
Please give my condolences to your wife and family. Our prayers are with you all.
Lina
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David Lungren
Family and Friends - 01/10/2012
To Judy, Brian, and all the members of the Volavka family I send my condolences and my best wishes that your warm memories help you through this time of passage. For me it feels like I just lost a little bit of who I am with Lois' passing, but it's not a loss but rather a bittersweet reminder that growing up as neighbors to the Henry and Lois Volavka family was part of who I was and who I was yet to become. For their influence I am thankful. The Hahn community was a special place and Henry's humor and Lois' kindness were integral parts of that place. Yep, I remember those 4-H cooking classes. I remember Stevie and I wandering our pastures for hours. Playing dare base at recess and the year Judy was my ride to school in Caldwell. Special memories. Special people.
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Bob Burgess
Family and Friends - 01/10/2012
Dear Judy and Brian:
We are so very sorry of hearing of the passing of your mother.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Bob & Mark Burgess
Burgess Manufacturing Inc.
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Mike Kinnan
Family and Friends - 01/10/2012
Judy and family:
I am sorry to hear of your mother's passing. I have a lot of fond memories working for your folks in the summer. Your mother was a great cook and a wonderful person. Roger is right. That Hahn community was a close-knit group. I remember one summer, a farmer was having some health issues and the rest of the farmers in the area pitched in and completed his field work. Now that's community!
God bless you.
