William "Pete" Dietrick Bockelmann, Jr 1924-2009

BOCKELMANN ROSBURG LAUMBACH

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 11/15/2009 at 17:51:24

Mapleton Press
23 July 2009

William "Pete" Dietrick Bockelmann,Jr. was born March 6, 1924, the son of William D and Emma (Rosburg) Bockelmann, Sr. He died Monday, June 8, 2009, at Alegent Mercy Hospital, Corning, Iowa, at the age of eighty-five.

He was born in Charter Oak Township in Crawford County, Iowa and grew up and received his education in Charter Oak, where he attended Lutheran School.

William was baptized and later confirmed at Saint John Lutheran Church in Charter Oak, Iowa on April 10, 1938. When he was a young boy he worked on the family farm. He enjoyed hunting and fishing as a boy, as well as in later life. He was a veteran of World War II serving in the United States Navy as a Seabee in the Pacific and was honorably discharged in July of 1946.

On August 24, 1946, he was united in marriage to Ethel Laumbach in Powhatten, Kansas, and the couple first made their home in the Chater Oak area. They were blessed with the birth of four children. Later they moved to Battle Creek, Iowa, being employed with Western Light & Telephone/ Western Power & Gas/Central Telephone/Central as a manager for the towns of Battle Creek, Ida Grove, Sac City, Denison and Corning where he retired after 30 years of service. During his early years with the telephone company he witnessed and participated in the introduction of the switching from operator switchboard to the dial system that preceded today's phone systems.

While in Battle Creek he joined the American Legion which his membership had spanned over 63 years. He also was a longtime volunteer fire-fighter with the Battle Creek fire Department which included fighting fires as well as putting on the annual July 4 fireworks display. He also coached the town softball team at one time, and was a member of the Ida Grove Kiwanis Club. Upon retirement, he and his wife spent 20 winters at Tropic Star Park in Pharr, Texas.

He was a loving and caring husband, father, and grandfather. Throughout his life he enjoyed a good game of Pinochle or euchre. When asked when his birthday was, his reply would be "when the wind blows".

Survivors include his wife Ethel of Corning; one daughter, Chrystal Zobel and her husband Allen; three sons; Eugene and his wife Linda; Richard and his wife Cheryl; and Mark Bockelmann; seven grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren; one brother, Herman and his wife Bonita; one sister, Arlene Kiepe; and one sister-in-law Opal Bockelmann; other relatives and friends.

Preceding him in death were his parents; two brothers; Albin Bockelmann and his wife Ruth; and Luvern Bockelmann; brother-in-law Ferdinand Kiepe and one great-grandson, Darrell Zobel at birth.

Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 13, 2009, at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Denison, Iowa. Rev. David Loeschen officiated the service and grave side rites held at the St Clair Cemetery in Ute, Iowa. Dianne Furne provided the organ accomaniment for soloist, Melinda Zobel singing "Amazing Grace" and congregational hymns "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" and "How Great Thou Art". Those serving as pallbearers were; Christian Beckendorf, Brandon Boechelmann, Mike Albright, Andrew Zobel, Tony Recker and Dan Olson. Military honors were the Battle Creek American Legion Post 364.

The family ivited everyone in attendance at the service to return to the church for fellowship and lunch catered by Staley's Food Service.

Huebner Funeral Home in Denison was in charge of arrangements.