Obituary: Marvin G. Volden

May 6, 1931 ~ November 1, 2020

Marvin G. Volden, age 89, of Sister Bay, formerly of Chicago, died peacefully Sunday, November 1, 2020 at Hearthside in Sister Bay.

He was born May 6, 1931 in Illinois, son of the late Elmer and Nora (Carlson) Volden. Marv graduated from Amundson High School in Chicago. He served his country with the U.S. Army in Germany during the Korean War. On May 14, 1955 he married Alice J. Carlson at Ebenezer Lutheran Church in Chicago. She preceded him in death on March 22, 2017. 

Marv was a skilled photo engraver with RR Donnelly & Sons printing company in Chicago for 40 years until his retirement at which time he and Alice moved to Door County.

Marv’s life was grounded in his faith and he lived a life of service in the many churches he attended throughout his life, including Ebenezer Lutheran and Edison Park Lutheran Churches in Chicago, and Shepherd of the Bay Lutheran and Immanuel Lutheran Churches in Door County. He served on many church boards. He and Alice enjoyed fun and fellowship in the Young Adult Fellowship group and the Couples club where they enjoyed life-long friendships with those they met there. He was also a regular on the men’s bowling league at Edison Park. He and Alice also were involved in starting the Jr. Luther League program at Edison Park Lutheran Church and spent years helping with the youth group programs. His life of faith and his personal integrity have influenced many lives. 

He usually was seen with a movie or still camera in hand sneaking fun pictures of family and friends. In retirement, he was often seen at Al Johnson’s or the Wagon Trail Bakery enjoying coffee, pie and ice-cream with his good friend, Don Johnson. Most notably, Marv was known for his night-time routine of having a bowl of ice-cream, which was missed only on rare occasions.

Survivors include his three children, Kevin (Sharon) Volden, Douglas (Vicki) Volden, and Rev. Susan (David) Gunderson; grandchildren Dane (Joanne) Volden, Kari (Tommy) Sloan, Brad (Nicole) Volden and Krista Volden. He is further survived by two great-grandchildren; step-grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren; nieces, nephews, and other extended family members.

Preceding him in death are his parents; son, Glenn (12); wife, Alice; and sister and brother-in-law, Doris and Hank Fehr.

“Our family is grateful to Martha and the staff at Hearthside for the exceptional and compassionate care and love of our father and extended to our family.”

Burial will be held on November 11, 2020 at Elm Lawn Cemetery in Elmhurst, Illinois at 1:00 p.m. A celebration of his life will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Friday November 20, 2020 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Baileys Harbor. (Due to COVID, 25 % capacity allowed, masks are required for the service, distancing will be complied with, along with temperature checks taken at the door. Hand sanitizer and masks will be available.) For those unable to attend, the service will be livestreamed via the Casperson Funeral Home & Cremation Services Facebook page. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in Marvin’s name to Immanuel Lutheran Church or the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (www.cff.org).

Casperson Funeral Home of Sister Bay is assisting the family. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Marvin may be shared with his family through his tribute page at www.caspersonfuneralhome.com.