Democratic assemblyman John A. Volk was born in Wabena, Wisconsin on September 28, 1915. His early background included work in a shipyard and an aircraft factory, as well as truck driving. Volk is also a licensed commercial pilot and flight instructor and a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association.
In 1943 Volk began dairy farming in the Wabena area on land entirely surrounded by Nicolet National Forest. At times he supplemented his income by working in the woods. He was a member of Associated Milk Producers and the Antigo Milk Products Cooperative.
Volk's background also includes a strong involvement in local government. During the years from 1947 to 1949 he served as chairman of the Town of Freedom and as Forest County supervisor. From 1952 to 1975 he was a member of the local school board. In 1983 when Volk was sixty-seven and semi-retired from farming he ran for the Wisconsin Assembly in a special election to fill the seat vacated by Lloyd Kincaid who had been elected to the Senate. Writing about his decision to seek state elective office in the Wisconsin Academy Review in 1986 Volk commented that his experience in local government had given him some insight into the workings of government but that he tended to regard state government as a convenient scapegoat for every problem that did not have a simple solution.
Volk was reelected to the Legislature in 1984, 1986 and 1988. His committee appointments included Agriculture (1985-1990), Education (1985-1989, vice-chair, 1985-1987), Tourism (1985-1990), Highways (1987-1988), Primary and Secondary Education (vice-chair, 1983-1985), and Rural Development and Forestry (1985; chair, 1989-1990). He also served as co-chair of the Retirement Research Committee (RRC) and the Joint Survey Committee on Retirement Systems (JSCRS) from 1985 to 1988.
In 1990 Volk declined to run for reelection.
