Margaret "Mary" Kock

Margaret "Mary" Kock, daughter of Leo and Lucine (Kramer) Klein, was born onMarch 2, 1933, in Earling, Iowa.

She was baptized and confirmed at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Earling. She attended St. Joseph's Catholic School until the fourth grade when the family moved north of Harlan. Marythen attended and graduated from Kirkman High School in 1951 as valedictorian. After high school, Mary attended business school in Omaha and worked as a secretary until her marriage to Charles Kock at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Harlan on November 29, 1952. To this union seven children wereborn: Debbie, Pat, Dean, Brian, Lisa, Sharon, and Steve. Charles and Mary were engaged in farming in the Walnut, Avoca, and Hancockarea most of their adult years.

Mary was a devoted mother and homemaker. She was very active in choir, and also helped with many church activities over the years. Mary loved baking for her family, friends and especially with her grandchildren. As a 4-H leader she helped her children and other 4-H members with their projects. She enjoyed quilting, sewing and attending her grandchildren's sporting events and school activities. Mary was very selfless; always a care giver to those in need.

Mary died on Friday, December 31, 2010, at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan,Iowa, having attained the age of seventy-seven years, nine months and twenty-nine days.

In addition to her father and a brother, Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Charles; and daughter, Debbie Kock Karstens.

Mary is survived by her children, Pat Sievers, of Avoca, Iowa, Dean Kock andhis wife, Mary Beth, of Hancock, Iowa, Brian Kock and his wife, Linda of Harlan, Iowa, Lisa and her husband, Nick Niedermayer, of Indianola, Iowa, Sharon and her husband, Dave Doud, of Stuart, Iowa, Steve Kock and his wife, Jennifer, of Hancock; fifteen grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; her mother, Lucine Klein, of Harlan; three brothers and three sisters.

Mass of Christian Burial was concelebrated by Rev. Tom Dooley and Rev. JohnFrost and assisted by Deacon Marvin Klein on Monday, January 3, 2011, at 10:30 a.m., at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Avoca, Iowa. Interment was held in Graceland Cemetery in Avoca.


This obituary was originally published in The Daily Nonpareil.