Surviving a spouse is always difficult, even when the spouse has a high-risk military career. For Gold Star wife Traci Voelke, losing her husband and high school sweetheart Major Paul C. Voelke was a heartbreaking reminder of the importance of connecting with those we love. After Paul’s death in his fifth deployment overseas, and facing raising their two sons alone, Traci has chosen to continue serving the military community as a lawyer and as part of the Army’s Survivor Advisory Working Group. Through The 98 Fund’s Alaska Project, she helps provide a safe space for military family survivors to vacation and learn new skills. She joins this episode of the Relentlessly Resilient podcast to share how connection and service have helped her deal with grief.  

Even though we live in challenging times we can become Relentlessly Resilient as we lean on and learn from one another’s experiences. Hosts Jennie Taylor and Michelle Scharf are no strangers to overcoming adversity; Michelle lost her husband to cancer, while Jennie’s husband Major Brent Taylor was killed in the service of our country. Their stories bond them together and now listeners can join them weekly as they visit with others enduring challenges and who teach us how they are exercising resiliency, finding value in their grief, and purpose in moving forward. 

Listen to the Relentlessly Resilient Podcast regularly on your favorite platform, at kslpodcasts.com, kslnewsradio.com, or on the KSL App. Join the Resilience conversation on Facebook at @RelentlesslyResilient and Instagram @RelentlesslyResilientPodcast. Produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.