Ralph Hocken

Ralph Hocken, 98, of Evansdale, formerly of La Porte City, died Friday, October 29, 2021, at the Cedar Valley Hospice Home.

He was born February 21, 1923, in Winthrop, son of Gary Lee Matthew and Mary H. (Neibeck) Hocken and graduated from Winthrop High School in 1941.

Ralph married Ruth A. Bark on February 20, 1944, in North Liberty. She died September 9, 1983. Later, he married Doris Bark on March 20, 1999, in Waterloo. She died November 4, 2012.

He worked at McGregor Furniture in Waterloo for over 49 years, most of those years as a salesman until moving in the warehouse doing service work, retiring in 1998.

Ralph was a member of Grace Brethren Church, and later the Central Christian Church, where he was a past deacon and Sunday School teacher. For over 14 years, he delivered Meals on Wheels in La Porte City, Washburn and Waterloo. He always enjoyed tinkering with engines and repairing cars and lawn mowers.

He is survived by his daughters, Judith (John) Metcalf of Hudson and Kathy (Reginald) Meyer of Independence; stepdaughters, Patti (Andy) Miller of Des Moines and Penny (Joe) Jenkins of La Porte City; stepson, David (Jeri) Bark of Murrayville, Georgia; 4 grandchildren: Jason (Kim) Metcalf, Justin (Bobbie) Metcalf, Jon (Kim) Metcalf, and Chance (Deb) Back; 8 great grandchildren: 10 step grandchildren: Jason (Kristel) Miller, Megan Miller; Frank (Jennifer) Morrell, Christina and Stephanie Morrell, Daniel, Hannah, Jeremiah, Nathan and Andrew Jenkins; 3 great-great grandchildren; and sister-in-law, Virginia Hocken of Cedar Falls.

Ralph is preceded in death by his wife, Ruth and wife Doris; sister, Mabel Chesmore; and brothers, Glenn, Clyde and twin brother, Delbert Hocken.