Bert Theodore Hokel (1885-1955)

HOKEL, AUSTIN, LODDEN, SPAHR, MUEHLENTHALER, HICKS, LYNCH

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 7/8/2023 at 15:06:02

From The Slater News September 22, 1955 (page 1)

Services Thursday For Bert T. Hokel

Obituary.

Bert Theodore Hokel, eldest child of the late Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Hokel, was born in Des Moines on Oct. 14, 1885, and passed away as the result of a heart attack Tuesday morning, Sept. 13, this attaining the age of 69 years, 10 months and 29 days.

He was baptised in infancy and in the course of years was instructed and confirmed in the Palestine Lutheran Church, where his parents held their membership, by the Rev. A. L. Huus, Nov. 18, 1900. He received the ordinary public schooling of his time and spent his boyhood at the farm home, later finding employment with the Lockwood Grain Co. of Sheldahl.

On June 3, 1908, he was united in holy wedlock with Miss Nora Austin, the Rev. Mr. Granberg taking their vows. To this union was born four children, three daughters and one son, all of whom now survive the father.

The new home was established in Sheldahl where Bert continued in the service of the grain company until the fall of 1913 when the family moved to Slater, Mr. Hokel having been transferred there by the grain company, where he continued to be employed until he decided to take up the masonry trade.

In 1925 the family came to Alleman where he continued in this occupation in a wide community until his end. Here it was that Mr. and Mrs. Hokel kept permanent residence, rearing their children in Christian nurture at the Salem Church, themselves transferring their membership to this church in 1935, when their two younger children were confirmed.

Mr. Hokel was a capable, honest and faithful workman, always ready to render a service to anyone in need, deeply devoted to his home and family, to whom he showed himself a wonderful husband and father and where his presence will be sorely missed. He was blessed with good health practically all his life, though advancing age also brought its normal infirmities. It was while at work he was suddenly stricken with illness and within a few minutes he breathed his last in his newly finished home, to be as we confidently believe, at rest in his eternal home.

Mr. Hokel was a member of Logic Lodge No. 636, A. F. & A. M. of Ankeny and I. O. O. F. Lodge No. 384 at Slater.

Preceding him in death in addition to his parents were a sister, Mrs. Inger Lodden, and a brother, Carl, who as a 1918 war casualty.

Surviving, besides his widow, are three daughters, Mrs. Arline Spahr and Mrs. Marian Muehlenthaler of Des Moines and Mrs. Beulah Hicks of Minneapolis; one son, Orville Eugene, of Alleman; four grandsons and four grand-daughters; also four brothers--Joe of Sanborn, Henry of Belmond, Leonard of Marshalltown and Ben of Slater; one sister, Mrs. Lenora Lynch of Joliet, Ill., besides other more distant relatives and a host of friends.

Services.

Funeral services were held Thursday afternoon, Sept. 15, from the Salem Evangelical and Reformed Church at Alleman with brief services preceding at the Riis Funeral Home in Slater.

His pastor, the Rev. F. E. Stucki, in charge, spoke words of comfort, using for his text John 14:2.

Brief Masonic services were held.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Fausch sang "Beyond the Sunset," and the former sang "The Lord's Prayer," favorites of the deceased. Mrs. L. E. Fausch presided at the organ.

There were an abundance of floral tributes and gifts to missions. In charge of the flowers wee Mrs. George Gfeller, Mrs. Walter Gfeller and Mrs. Howard Ward.

Pallbearers were Louis Buehler, Chas. Davis, George Gfeller, Walter Gfeller, Howard Ward and Guy Zelle.

Interment was in the Palestine Cemetery.