Doc & Roma Peeke Park

Doc and Roma Peeke Park. . This park is named in honor of Dr. Alonzo Provost Peeke (1909-1992) and Roma Peeke (1909-1978). Doc Peeke served as a physician to the Volga community and surrounding area for more than 50 years, from 1929 to 1984. In this time Doc Peeke delivered or, as Doc would say. "caught" more than 4,000 babies for Volga-area families. As the only area doctor during World War II, Peeke delivered most babies during this time. When Peeke began his medical practice, delivery of a baby cost $25, plus mileage as most children were born at home., Peeke met his future wife Roma Barlow in 1932 during a trip to visit his sisters in Colorado. While unusual for women of the era to have a college degree, Roma was a graduate of Oklahoma State University. Peeke had to borrow $60 from a Volga bank to pay for the trip. Later that same year during a "weekend" trip Peeke married Roma in her home state of Arkansas. The couple made their home in Volga for their entire married lives, sending their six children (Cheryl, Caroline, Becky, Dick, Jim and Bryan) to Volga/Sioux Valley Schools. Roma passed away on November28, 1978 just four days following their 46th anniversary., The Peekes' made many lasting and important contributions to the Volga community. Roma was a civic-minded person and was as concerned about the welfare of Volga's citizenry as was her husband. Roma Peeke is credited with getting the city of Volga to create a municipal drinking water and sanitary sewer system, along with establishing the availability of pasteurized milk. Roma was active in the school system and was a leading advocate for consolidation with other area schools in Bruce and Sinai which later occurred in 1964. Roma is also credited as the founder of the Girl Scouts in Volga. Another lasting contribution from Roma was her abiding concern for affordable housing. Several houses along Hansina Avenue stand in testament to her dedication to providing quality housing for Volga citizens., This park sits in the shadow of the hospital Doc Peeke led for decades. Generations of children who play in this park do so within the sight of where their parents and grandparents entered this world in the hands of Doc Peeke.