A Mass of Christian Burial for Donald "Don" Volk, age 90, of Heron Lake, will be held at 10:30 AM on Monday, September 21st at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Heron Lake. Burial will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Heron Lake.

On Sunday, September 20th, family and friends will gather for Don at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Heron Lake to pray the rosary at 4:30 PM, and the visitation will follow from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. Visitation will continue Monday at the Church for one hour prior to the funeral Mass.

In lieu of flowers, the family wishes to direct donations in Donald's memory to the Sacred Heart Cemetery Association (PO Box 337, Heron Lake, MN 56137). Donald Herman Volk was born on November 11, 1935, in Weimer Township, Jackson County, Minnesota to Herman Volk and Matilda (Schaffer) Volk Hussong. He was born on the family farm and was proud to have lived there until the age of 88, when he moved into the Village of Heron Lake. Don received the sacraments at Sacred Heart Catholic Church and attended Sacred Heart Parochial School, before graduating from Heron Lake High School. He proudly served his country in the United States Army, and following his honorable discharge, returned home to Heron Lake.

On March 12, 1960, Donald was united in marriage to Maurita Freking at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. The marriage was blessed with four children: Karen, Diane, John and Janelle. Don farmed for 65 years, taking great pride in caring for the land he had been entrusted with and raising livestock. He also had a soft spot for all the kitties that found their way to the farm. Eager to go, Donald loved the places he and Maurita visited in their travels.

Donald served his community as the treasurer of the Weimer Township Board for forty years. He loved sports and enjoyed playing softball in the church league, watching his grandkids’ games, supporting local sports teams, and being a high school football referee for thirty years. Morning coffee with the boys was a simple tradition that he looked forward to each day.

A lifelong member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Don served as an altar boy, lector, and Eucharistic minister. He was a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters and served as treasurer of the cemetery board for more than forty years. His care for the cemetery went far beyond keeping track of its finances. He mowed the grounds, dug every grave by hand, and during the winter months, thawed grave plots by burning corncobs. These were the quiet faithful ways Don served his community, never seeking recognition, simply doing what needed to be done.

On September 12, 2026, Donald passed away surrounded by the love of his family, at Sanford Medical Center in Worthington, Minnesota.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 66 years, Maurita Volk of Heron Lake; four children, Karen (Pete) Kallas of Fort Worth, TX and their two children Tony Kallas (fiancé Maggie Wang) and Adrian Kallas (fiancé, Justin Watkins); Diane (Greg) Blanchard of Broomfield, CO and their three children Jessica Blanchard (Beau Juenemann), Alicia (Tanner) Oman and son, Aiden, and Micaela (Daniel) Jansen and daughter, Nora; John (Julianne) Volk of Heron Lake and their two children David Volk (Becca Hacker) and Anna Volk; and Janelle (Kevin) Honeycutt of Mercer Island, WA and their son, Jack Honeycutt; brother-in-law, Larry (Lorraine) Freking of Plymouth; sister-in-law, Kathy (Wayne) Karlsrud of North Mankato; several nieces, nephews, relatives and friends; and "Black Kitty"

Donald was preceded in death by his parents, Herman Volk and Matilda Volk Hussong; sister, Dorothy Benda; parents-in-law, Lawrence and Eleanor Freking; and sister-in-law, Connie (Floyd) Nerheim.

Blessed be the memory of Donald Herman Volk, who will be remembered as a humble and hardworking man who was proud of his family, his farm, his faith, and his community.