Obituary of Irvin Earl Bockenstedt

Surviving are his wife, Valeria, 6 children: Sharon (Beryle) Brown of Cedar Rapids, Jim of Earlville, Duane (Jami) of Urbandale, Steve of Delhi, Keith (Kristi) of Petersburg and Gary (Special friend Lisa Freiburger) of Earlville; 14 grandchildren and 2 step-grandchildren; 1 great grandchild and 6 step-great grandchildren; 3 sisters: Pearl Meier of Dyersville, Jeanne Oberbroeckling of Dyersville and Arlene (Ambrose) Langel of Manchester; 4 brothers: John (Dorothy) of Cedar Rapids,Walter (Mary) of Dubuque, Vernon (Sharon) of Colesburg, Iowa, and Virgil (Sue) of Eyota, MN; Brothers-and-sisters-in-law: Gilbert (Germaine) Goedken, Helen Wilgenbusch, Norma (Vernon) Brunsman, Mary Lou (Elmer) Engelken, Inez (Francis) Hermsen, Laverne (Pat) Goedken, Carol (Dale) Clemen, John (Marilyn) Goedken and Marvin (Janet) Rolfes. He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant sister, Ruth Ann; brothers-and-sisters-in-law, Victor Meier, Henry Oberbroeckling, Stella and Leo Demmer, Emil Wilgenbusch and Patricia Rolfes. Irv was born March 17, 1933 in Petersburg, Iowa the son of John F. and Hilda Hermsen Bockenstedt. He served in the US Army from 1953 - 1955. He married Valeria J. Goedken on September 12, 1959 in Petersburg and together they began farming near Manchester for 5 years until returning to the Bockenstedt family farm near Petersburg where he was born, raised and died. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather who loved his family and enjoyed fishing, baseball, farming and anything outdoors. Irvin E. Bockenstedt, 76, of Petersburg, Iowa died Saturday, July 4, 2009, at his residence after a long battle with cancer. Friends may call from 2 - 9 p.m. Tuesday, July 7, 2009, at the Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville where a parish scripture service will be at 4 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 8, 2009, at SS. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Petersburg, Iowa with burial in the church cemetery. Rev. John O'Connor will officiate. American Legion Post 137 will accord Military Honors. Memorials are preferred to SS. Peter & Paul Catholic Church or Hospice of Manchester.