Roger W. Bock

Roger W. Bock, 96, of South Bend, passed away on Saturday morning, August 11, 2018 at Doverwood Village in Hamilton, Ohio.

Roger was born February 26, 1922 in Mishawaka, a son of the late Harvey and Rachel “Pauline” (Hawk) Bock. He grew up in Mishawaka and was a 1940 graduate of Mishawaka High School. Roger earned a Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering from Purdue University in 1943. He served his country in the US Navy during World War II.

Roger married Waneta Mae Taylor on October 10, 1954 and the couple lived most of their married life in South Bend.

Roger was an Engineer for Schumacher Construction for 31 years where he did design and build work and later worked from his home. He and Waneta owned and operated Putt Putt Golf which was originally on McKinley and now is on North Main in Mishawaka. From 1984 to 1989, Roger was the General Manager for Mishawaka Utilities.

Roger was a long time member of First Christian Church in Mishawaka where he served as an Elder and Deacon. He designed the new church when it was built in 1971. He was a member of Gideon’s International. Since 1955, Roger was a member of the Mishawaka Kiwanis Club, serving as President in 1960 and Lieutenant Governor for the local Division from 1988 – 1989. He was a member of the Professional Engineering Society and the local chapter of the Purdue Alumni Association. He received the Sagamore of the Wabash in 2002. Roger was a 21 Gallon Blood Donor for the South Bend Medical Foundation. He enjoyed bowling, pontoon rides, Purdue football and basketball, his pet dogs, and yard work. The Bock’s have many great memories of times spent at their summer home at Klinger Lake with family and friends near White Pigeon, Michigan

Roger’s surviving family includes his wife of over 63 years, Waneta; two sons, David Alan (Kathy) Bock of West Chester, Ohio and Timothy Karl (Marcie) Bock of Allentown, Pennsylvania; four grandchildren, Aubrey (Paul) Backscheider, Matthew, Rachel and Andrew Bock; and two great grandchildren, Anavera and Nolan Backscheider.

Roger was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Cheryl Ann Bock; and a brother, James Bock.

Services honoring Roger’s life and faith will be held at 11 am Saturday (August 18) in First Christian Church, 2511 E. 3rd Street, Mishawaka, with Rev. Dr. Douglas Cripe officiating. Burial will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Osceola, with military honors by VFW 360/American Legion 161 Burial Squad.

Visitation will be from 4 – 7 pm Friday in Goethals & Wells Funeral Home, 503 W. 3rd Street, Mishawaka, and from 10 – 11 am Saturday in church.

Memorials are suggested to Gideon’s International. Assistance with memorials is available through the funeral home.