In honor of Art, Arnie and Gib (all three were WWII veterans), Larry & Judi Voecks and Mary Voecks Vaughn donated a granite bench in Heroes Park in Norfolk, Nebraska. We are happy to be able to honor our fathers and uncles in this way. Heroes Park was dedicated on November 7, 2013. It is in a beautiful setting in front of the Veterans' Home. The brothers' names will now be a part of Norfolk forever.
Arnie was born on September 30 1915 in Randolph, Nebraska. His parents were Otto Voecks and Martha (Muehlmeier) Voecks.
He had three siblings, older brother, Art-younger sister, Marguerite-and younger brother, Gib. The family moved to Norfolk shortly after Arnie was born. He attended Christ Lutheran school and Norfolk High.
(This story told by Marge Voecks)
Your dad's first job other than a paper boy!
Grandma Voecks made the down payment on the bike and then he took over the payments. One week's salary paid for the clothes. Several girls tell me that they just waited for him to go by, he was so cute!
Business men got their stock information delivered in this way.
Arnie and Margaret Helen Dorau were married November 30, 1939. They lived in Norfolk, where Larry was born, then moved to Grand Island where Arnie worked in a bomb plant until he was inducted into the Navy.
After the war, Marge and Arnie, moved back to Norfolk.
In 1954 Marge, Arnie and Larry welcomed Madonna into their lives. She was three years old at the time.
During these years they joined the Norfolk Country Club and loved spending time there socializing with friends, golfing and playing bridge.
They raised their family in Norfolk and lived there until Arnie's job required a move to Ames, Iowa in 1969. They lived in Ames until Arnies retirement.
During the early years Arnie worked for Western Union, Dudleys, Lever Brothers, and the bomb plant . He eventually started working for Folgers Coffee, which was acquired by Proctor and Gamble.
Marge worked selling Avon Products while they lived in Norfolk.
Around 1969 they left Norfolk and moved to Ames, Iowa. Arnie continued to work for Folgers untill his retirement. Meanwhile Marge sold real estate. During these years they also owned and managed several rental properties.
After Arnie retired he and Marge moved to Fremont Nebraska where their son Larry lived. After a couple of years they bought a second home in Mesa, Arizona. It wasn't long until they decided to sell their home in NE and move to AZ full time.
It was a great place for them,as they could golf, play bridge, go dancing and have fun with all the new friends they made.
They lived there till 2005, when due to Arnie's health they moved back to Norfolk, NE to be closer to family.
Arnie suffered a stoke and moved to the Norfolk Vets Home in January 2006. He lived there until his death on August 20, 2007. We were lucky that although his physical health required him to be in a home, his mental health was good till his death. He was the same loving, caring, fun person he always had been. Till the day he passed away his main concern was Marge and how she would manage without him.
