Thomas “Tom” Charles Volkening, age 72, of Eagle, Michigan died Friday, December 9, 2022 at the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, following a brief illness.
Born March 11, 1950 in Port Huron, Michigan he was the son of the late Burt Austin & Carol Louise (Pepper) Volkening.
Tom Volkening graduated in 1968 from Marysville High School in Michigan, received his B.A degree from Oakland University in 1972 and his M.L.S.degree from Western Michigan University in 1976. He joined the Michigan State University Libraries in 1984 as the Engineering Librarian after serving 7 years as a librarian at the University of Detroit.
Tom recently retired in July of this year, having been a Librarian at Michigan State University School of Engineering for many years. He was the 2020 recipient of the MSU Libraries Career Achievement Award and the 2021 recipient of the Homer I. Bernhardt Award from the American Society for Engineering Education-Engineering Libraries Division. He was a member of the American Library Association, Association of College and Research Libraries, Special Libraries Association, Michigan Academic Library Association, and the American Society for Engineering Education – Engineering Libraries Division. In addition he was a member of the American Horticultural Society and the Seed Savers Exchange (heirloom seeds).
In his leisure time he enjoyed family and friends as well as gardening, baking, photography and travelling.
Survivors include a sister & brother-in-law, Jane (David) Chesham of Chicago, Illinois, as well as cousins: Anne Fetrow, Doug (Sharon) Pepper , Greg (Colleen) Pepper, Susan (Don) Freeman, Joan Pepper (Brian Averette), David (Missy) Pepper and nephews Richard Volkening II, Richard (Dawn) Stone and niece Michelle Volkening.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a brother Richard (Susan) Volkening and uncle Richard “Dick” (Jean) Pepper.
Family & friends may visit from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at Phillips & Meyers Funeral Home, 1025 Franklin Avenue, Brookville, funeral service will follow the visitation. Burial took place in Maple Grove Cemetery in Brookville.
Greg Pepper will officiate the Funeral Services on Saturday, January 7, 2023, 3:00 P.M. at Phillips & Meyers Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the MSU Department of Horticulture (https://www.canr.msu.edu/hrt/giving), the Seed Savers Exchange (https://www.seedsavers.org/donate) and the Ten Pound Fiddle (https://www.tenpoundfiddle.org/),
The staff of Phillips & Meyers Funeral Home are honored to serve the Volkening/Pepper Family. To sign the online guest book visit www.phillipsandmeyers.com. Personal condolences to the family may be sent to Phillips & Meyers Funeral Home, P.O. Box 203, Brookville, IN 47012-0203.