Vincent Kokenge

1923 - 2016

Vincent Kokenge

Sioux Falls, SD ~ Vincent N. Kokenge, 93, died on 9/28/16.

Funeral services will begin at 11 AM on Friday, 10/7/16 at George Boom Funeral Home in Sioux Falls. Visitation will begin at 5 PM on Thursday at the funeral home with the family present to greet friends from 5-7 PM. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation.

Vincent Nicholas was born on Sept. 12, 1923 in Sioux County, IA to Joseph & Catherine (Kellen) Kokenge. He was raised and received his education in Sioux County, attending and graduating from Paullina High School in 1941. It was as a child that Vince developed a love of baseball. Playing ball out of Granville, IA Catholic High School, Vince eventually signed to play minor league baseball with the New York Yankees organization in Quincy, IL. That dream of the "bigs" did not come to pass, but he did spend several years in Iowa and Nebraska as a baseball player. From baseball Vince moved on to throwing a hook from the left side as a bowler. In 1989, Vince was inducted into the South Dakota Bowlers Association Hall of Fame.

Vince was united in marriage with Delores Kroeger on 11/10, 1947. In 1967, he started Kokenge Painting Service, a business he owned and operated until his retirement in 1988.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Delores Kokenge; 6 children: Mike (Marcia) Kokenge, Larry (Colleen) Kokenge, Kathy (Jim) Lang, Cindi (Tony) Ruggiero, Pam (Jeff) Cox, and Ron (Barb) Kokenge; daughter-in-law, Michelle Ward; 22 grandchildren; 40 great grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Vince is preceded in death by his parents; son, Douglas Kokenge; and brothers: Raymond and Virgil Kokenge. A complete obituary is available at www.georgeboom.com.