Raymond H. Bockerman

Dec. 28, 1912-June 22, 2010

ARAPHOE, Nebraska -- Raymond H. Bockerman, 97, died on Tuesday (June 22, 2010) at the Phelps Memorial Hospital in Holdrege.

He was born on Dec. 28, 1912, south of Arapahoe to Gottlieb and Louise (Flake) Bockerman. He attended school at Arapahoe High School and graduated with the class of '31.

He would farm with his family until 1938, when he entered military service in February of 1940. He served 4 1/2 years including time in North Africa and Italy. In July of 1945 he was discharged. He would come back to Nebraska to farm and in 1945 he bought land in Frontier County.

He married Mary DeVries on Sept. 6, 1948, in Beaver City. The couple made their home on the farm in Frontier County. He retired from farming in 1971 and began to travel south for the winters. In 1981, they moved to Arapahoe.

He was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church of Arapahoe. He was a board of director for the Curtis Telephone Company and Curtis Coop, and member of the American Legion, of Curtis. He was also a past member of the Farm Bureau of Nebraska.

He is preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Barbara Ann; brothers, Leonard, Richard and Chester.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Bockerman of Arapahoe.

Funeral services will be Saturday, 10:30 a.m., at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Arapahoe with the Rev. James Moshier officiating. Burial will follow at the Arapahoe Cemetery. Military rites will be presented by the American Legion Carl Heath Post No. 95 of Curtis.

Viewing and visitation will be Friday from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. at Wenburg Funeral Home in Arapahoe and prior to the service at the church.

Condolences or personal reflections can be left at wenburgfuneralhome.com

Wenburg Funeral Home of Arapahoe, Nebraska is in charge of the arrangements.