Andy F. Vollmar
Andy F. Vollmar, 94, passed away Oct. 28, 2012, after a long-time struggle with dementia. He was born in Raymondville, Mo., Aug. 17, 1918, to William Ode and Hester LeAnn (Martin) Vollmar.
He served in World War II in the South Pacific. He received the Purple Heart for combat wounds. In addition, Sgt. Vollmar served as a drill instructor during the war. After discharge, he completed high school in Willow Springs, Mo. He and his brother Wayne had a band and sang on the radio station WEW in St. Louis.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ode and Hester Vollmar; four sisters, Gladys, Vera, Bernice and Audrey; one brother, Wayne; a son, Lee; and his namesake, Uncle Andy Vollmar.
He leaves behind two daughters, Janett Wagner and Sandy Jones of Florida; and one son, Lt. Col. Frank Vollmar, USAF retired. This proud grandfather will be missed by grandchildren, Tad Vollmar and family of Omaha, Neb.; Frank Jr. and Brock of Perth, New Brunswick, Canada. He also is survived by several other grandchildren (sons and daughters of Janett and William Lee) along with great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
After World War II, he married the love of his life, Georgia Lynch, and was happily married for 41 years. He and his best friend, Georgia, became successful in business and management. They owned two prosperous night clubs in Texas County, Sleepy Hollow and the Sunset Club in the ’50s. In 1960 he was the manager of Pontiac Boat Dock Marina on Bull Shoals Lake. While managing the facility at Bull Shoals, he invented fishing spinner bait, “Andy’s Killer.” Once again he excelled and won the Field and Stream magazine fishing contest with a 12-pound northern largemouth bass from Bull Shoals with “Andy’s Killer.” He sold thousands of lures and appeared in a Field and Stream article.
Mr. Vollmar continued to pursue his passion for fishing and moved to Pine Island in 1961. He served as a Realtor, but his first love was fishing. In Pine Island he won several local bass tournaments and placed high in national American Bass Fisherman tournaments in the ’60s and ’70s. The avid angler also guided for the world famous fisherman Roland Martin.
His proudest moment in fishing came when he set a world record for Seat Trout Commercial Fishing, 462 pounds in one day with one rod and reel, over 400 head of trout. At the same time as fishing commercially, Capt, Andy, a U.S. Coast Guard licensed captain, owned a lucrative charter boat business with a boat named “Sandy Kay,” named after his daughter.
This dedicated sportsman loved turkey hunting in Texas County and throughout 40 years of hunting, he unselfishly taught hundreds of people how to call and even called them in for many.
He was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He found Jesus Christ in the Raymondville Methodist Church. In the last few years of his life he prayed every day. He will be missed by all who knew him.
Online condolences may be made at fishvollmar@aol.com.