Andy F. Vollmar, 94, passed away on Oct. 28, 2012, after a long struggle with dementia. Andy was born in Raymondville, Mo., on 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, Sergeant Vollmar served as a drill instructor during the war. After discharge, he completed high school in Willow Springs, Mo. Andy and his brother, Wayne, had a band and sang on the radio station WEW in St. Louis, Mo.
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.
Andy leaves behind two daughters, Janett Wagner and Sandy Jones of Florida; and one son, Lt. Colonel Frank Vollmar, USAF retired. This proud grandfather will be missed by grandchildren, Tad Vollmar and family of Omaha, Neb., and Frank, Jr. and Brock of Perth, NB 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, Andy 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 nightclubs 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 twelve-pound Northern Largemouth Bass from Bull Shoals with “Andy’s Killer.” Andy sold thousands of lures and appeared in a Field and Stream article.
Andy continued to pursue his passion for fishing and moved to Pine Island, Fla., 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.
Andy’s proudest moment in fishing came when he set a world record for Sea 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, Captain 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.
Andy Vollmar 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.
Services were 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, at Evans Funeral Home with the Rev. Ed Hamilton officiating. Pallbearers were Tad Vollmar, Richard Hassell, Verlin Beasley, Troy Boyd, Dan Adey and Bob Gaston. Burial with full military honors was in Vollmar Cemetery under the direction of Evans Funeral Home.
Online condolences may be made at www.evansfh.com.
