Sue Volk

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Susan Michelle (Esbeck) Volk. Sue passed away peacefully in her home near Indianola, Iowa, surrounded by her family on September 16, 2025, at the age of 61 following a short but courageous battle with cancer.

Sue was born on November 14, 1963, in Atlantic, Iowa; the third child of Lyle and Jessie (Sanders) Esbeck. A devoted daughter, Sue spent much of her childhood assisting the family in maintaining their family farm. Sue developed a love and pride for the land and later incorporated the knowledge she developed at this time in her life into her own gardens and landscaping.

Sue was an active student in school, engaging in Reader’s Theater, 4-H, and Drama. She loved music and was a talented singer. Her love of music remained true throughout her life and she always shared new and inspiring songs & lyrics with those she loved. Sue graduated from Atlantic High School in 1982 and attended Jennie Edmundson School of Nursing, earning her RN. God gave Sue the gift of nurturing and she incorporated this ability into her role as a nurse.

It was in high school that she met the love of her life, Michael Volk. The couple married on June 23, 1984, and lived for nearly five years in Carson City, Nevada while Mike attended college in Reno. It was during this time that their daughter Jessica was born.

Upon returning to Iowa, Sue and Mike purchased their first home and welcomed their son Jason into the world. They later moved to their home near Indianola and it was here that Sue’s love of the land flourished as they established permanent roots. Sue developed beautiful landscaping and maintained large gardens and shared her harvest generously with friends and family.

Out of all of Sue’s talents, her greatest accomplishment was that of being a wife, mother, and later a grandmother. Sue stayed home to care for her children throughout their childhood. During this time, she also substituted at the local school and maintained volunteer positions for school activities and at the family’s church.

While soft-spoken and often shy in nature, Sue was strong in her values and faith, instilling these beliefs in her family members. Her loving and nurturing nature radiated from her in everything she did. Sue was quick to offer a helpful hand to anyone she saw in need. She had a way of making things beautiful around her, from landscaping to envisioning new house projects for her and her family members’ homes. Sue was the person who lovingly made too much food for family get togethers and sent everyone home with leftovers for the week. She was credited with being the best at back rubs and for her empathetic listening.

In later years, Sue and Mike cared for her beloved mother in their home and also cared for their four grandchildren. She adored reading, singing, dancing, swimming, and spending time outside with them. She loved feeding the four “babies” the various fruits and vegetables from her trees and gardens. She was quick to teach them new things, giving her grandchildren a passion for learning about the human body.

While her family is heartbroken with the loss of Sue, her legacy will live on through the love she gave and the abundance of memories she made with those who loved her.

Remaining to cherish Sue’s memory are her husband, Michael Volk; children, Jessica (Heather) Volk and Jason (Bethany) Volk; grandchildren, Hadley Louise, Oliver Michael, Bennett Eugene, and Sullivan Joseph; her mother, Jessie Lou Esbeck; and many extended family members.

Preceding Sue in death are her maternal grandparents, Otto and Anna Sanders; paternal grandparents, Andrew and Katherine Esbeck; father, Lyle Eugene Esbeck; and nephews, Jason and Jeffrey.

A Celebration of Life visitation, with the family present, will be held from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 23rd at Hamilton’s Southtown Funeral Home, 5400 SW 9th Street, Des Moines, Iowa. A brief moment of sharing by the family will begin at 6:30 p.m.

The family encourages you to bring a written memory or story of Sue to share with them at the visitation or on her guestbook at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.

A private family inurnment will be held in the Atlantic Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Sue’s memory may be directed to the family to be distributed at a later date.

Roland Funeral Service is caring for Sue’s family and her arrangements.