Vernon Bockenstedt

VERNON BOCKENSTEDT

Earlville

Vernon Clarence Bockenstedt, 79, of Earlville, died Monday, Dec. 8, 2014. Funeral Mass will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Earlville. The family will greet friends from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, at Clifton Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Earlville, with a 3 p.m. Scripture service, and one hour before Mass on Saturday, also at the funeral home. Burial will be at St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery, Earlville.

Vernon was born Sept. 17, 1935, in Dubuque, Iowa, the son of William and Minnie Bockenstedt. He graduated from Greeley High School in 1954. Vernon married Margaret Maiers on Aug. 19, 1958, in Holy Cross. Together they farmed, raising five children. He also worked for River City Paving. He was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Earlville.

Vernon is survived by his wife; five children, Karen (Butch Brotherton) Bockenstedt, Terry (Linda) Bockenstedt, Lynn (Daryld) Lewin, Kathy (Tim) Schmelzer and Lisa (Karl) Lode; 11 grandchildren, Luke (Jenny) Bockenstedt, Andy (Lynn) Bockenstedt, Katie Bockenstedt, Natasha and Kyle Klaren, Todd (Sarah) Lewin, Austin Lewin, Daniel and Chad Schmelzer, and Dustin and Kelsey Lode; six great-grandchildren, Reid, Samuel, Nadiah, Ty, Maci and Will, with two on the way; five siblings, Ardell Klosterman, William "Bud" (Alice) Bockenstedt, Cal (Toots) Bockenstedt, Agnes Putz and Helen (Joe) Nurre; in-laws, Shirley Spoerl, Katie (Roger) Steffen, Dave Krapfl, Rosie Helle, Carol (Jigg) Lattner, Diane Maiers and Bernie Maiers; and many nieces and nephews.

Vernon was preceded in death by his parents; his father and mother-in-law, Pete and Bertha Maiers; and siblings, Fred Bockenstedt, Harry Bockenstedt and Anna Mae Koelker.

Please share a memory of Vernon at www.

murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.