Deborah Lynn (Siemsen) Volavka (1957-2024)
Deborah Lynn (Siemsen) Volavka, 67, passed away Oct. 12, 2024, in rural Sumner County. She was born Oct. 12, 1957, in Ellsworth, Kan., to Robert and Jo Ann (Strube) Siemsen. She grew up on a farm five miles northwest of Holyrood, Kan., with her younger siblings Steven, Roger and Julie.
Debbie attended Holyrood Grade School, graduating in 1971, just a few months after her mother’s unexpected death. Debbie continued taking piano lessons, which she started in fourth grade, and organ lessons, which started in eighth grade. She got great satisfaction from accompanying school events while growing up, playing for many weddings and funerals, playing the organ and piano in Holyrood and Anthony churches, accompanying the Anthony Community Christmas Cantata and playing for Argonia School music contests and events for many years.
She graduated from Holyrood High School in 1975. She attended Emporia State University, where she received her degrees in music and education.
She took a teaching job as a home economics teacher at Argonia High School after graduating in 1978. As fate would have it, this teaching opportunity led her to meet her future husband, Mike.
On June 1, 1979, she married Michael Volavka from Caldwell, Kan. To this union were born Jo Ann (Volavka) Hardaway, Kevin Volavka and Lyle Volavka.
She was a devoted farmer, working on the wheat and cattle farm with Mike and raising their three children.
In her spare time, she thoroughly enjoyed genealogy research, cross-stitch, making family Christmas stockings, baking and decorating beautiful cakes and crafting beautiful cards for her family and friends. Together, Debbie and Mike also enjoyed researching and purchasing items they found on eBay. She was also a trustee on the Bluff Township Board and the Czech Cemetery Board.
She was Mike’s California girl and Midwest farmer’s daughter. She was deeply devoted and committed to her partner and true love.
Her main love was her family, and she truly enjoyed every moment with each of them.
She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Mike; daughter Jo Ann (Chris) Hardaway, Cheyenne, Wyo., and sons Kevin Volavka, Argonia, Kan., and Lyle Volavka, Caldwell; grandchildren, to whom she was known as Baba, Zachary and Allison, Cheyenne; Kodi and Kelsie, Argonia; and Jase and Rhett, Caldwell; as well as many loved family and friends.
Debbie was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Jo Ann (Stube) Siemsen and grandparents John and Ruby (Teel) Strube and Henry and Leora (Johansen) Siemsen.
Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024, at Schaeffer Mortuary, Caldwell. Interment followed at the Czechoslovakian Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Czech Cemetery and sent in care of the mortuary.
To share a memory or leave a condolence, please visit www.schaeffermortuary.info.
Arrangements by Schaeffer Mortuary, 6 N. Main, Caldwell, KS 67022.