Marvin M. Hockenberry

Marvin M. Hockenberry, 93, of Anita, passed away Saturday, Dec. 20, 2014, at the Cass County Medical Center in Atlantic.
Marvin McKinley Hockenberry was born July 24, 1921, in Exira, to Scott Henry and Retta (Elwood) Hockenberry. The family lived south of Exira for 13 years before moving into Exira. Later on the family moved east of Brayton. Marvin attended Windy Dale Country School. On Feb. 15, 1948, he married Darleen Rose Grote in the United Methodist Church Parsonage in Atlantic. Marvin and Darleen lived in Lewis, Wiota, and Anita.
His career included being a dairyman who delivered milk twice daily, working for the Audubon County Farm for several summers, Skelly Service Station service man, Challenge Feed truck driver, State of Iowa Highway paint crew and a farmer.
He enlisted in the United States Army October 1942 and was honorably discharged in October 1945. During that time he was in the Army Air Corp 59th Squadron Troop Carrier and dropped paratroopers into France on D-Day. He was a parachute rigger and a life boat repairman serving in Campaigns in central Europe, Rhineland, Rome, Normandy, Sicily, Naples and northern France. He was awarded seven Bronze stars for seven Campaigns, the Good Conduct Medal and the Distinguished Unit Badge.
Marvin was a member of the Wiota Evangelical Lutheran Church southeast of Wiota and the Wiota Boosters. He was a master gardener and was "Corn King" for being the best sweet corn grower in Cass County. He was involved in farmers markets from 1988 – 2011.
Preceding Marvin in death were his parents, Scott Henry and Retta Hockenberry; his brothers, Donald (Cora Maxine) Hockenberry and Lloyd Hockenberry; his sister and her husband, Lois (John) Kendle; and a brother at six months old, Raymond Hockenberry.
Surviving Marvin is his wife, Darleen Hockenberry of Anita; his sons, Duane (Marcia) Hockenberry, Darrell (Lynn) Hockenberry and David (Laurie) Hockenberry all of Anita, and Dennis (Janelle) Hockenberry of Wiota; grandchildren, Jason (Bryn Barnes) Hockenberry of Castle Rock, Colo., Justin (Marcia Casteel) Hockenberry of Anita, Jonathan (Denise Murphy) of Sioux Falls, S.D., Megan (Jeremy) Cook of Urbandale, Eric (Danielle) Hockenberry of Ankeny, great-granddaughter, Hannah Marie Cook of Urbandale; adopted grandson, Coulton (Brittany) Honeck and their daughter, Myah of Anita; sister-in-law, Mary Hockenberry of Guthrie Center; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Visitation with family will be held from 5 – 7 p.m., on Monday, Dec. 22 at Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Atlantic.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 23 also at Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic. Burial will be in the First Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery southeast of Wiota at 9 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 23 prior to the funeral service. Family will greet friends at a luncheon in Hockenberry's Community Room following the funeral service.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the family for designation at a later date.
Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.hockenberryfamilycare.com.