Donald Stanley Sochocki

1933 - 2016

Donald Stanley Sochocki, The Flower Man, born March 11, 1933, died from natural causes at home on April 26th at approximately 11:30 a.m. He had recently celebrated his 83rd birthday.
He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Darlene (nee Sheffler) and their four children, Renee Blosser, Brian (Kelly), Jeff, and Scott Sochocki. He is also survived by his brother, Larry
(Shirley).
Donald was preceded in death by his parents, Stanley and Valerie.
Donald was the proud grandfather to 11 grandchildren: Lyndze, Jonathan (Courtney), Jessica (Steve), Brianne, Jacob, Kaila, Alyssa, Jennifer, Melissa (Nick), Mallorie (Brandon), and Marc; and also seven great-grandchildren: Wyatt, Evelyn, Alex, Anna, McKailya, Kendra, and
Autumn.
Donald was a graduate of Airport High School (1951) and Michigan State University (1953) with a major in horticulture.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served during the Korean War. On Sept. 26, 1959, he married Darlene Scheffler in Trenton,
Mich.
Donald took over his family's greenhouse and flower business in 1954, spending his life sharing his immense love for flowers. Most notably, the family business has been a prominent member of the flower sellers at Detroit's Eastern Market for over 75 years, with Donald presiding over nearly 60 of those years.
Henry Beecher once wrote that, "Flowers are the sweetest things God ever made and forgot to put a soul into." Donald lived that passion and spent his life putting his own soul into spreading the beauty and joy of
flowers.
As well as running the family business, he worked at McLouth Steel Mill in Trenton for 27 years and was known as "Doc".
Donald loved people and lived his life with exuberance and passion, always cherishing large family gatherings. He will be lovingly missed by everyone who was blessed to know him.
Visitation will be held 2-9 p.m. today, April 28, 2016, at Arthur Bobcean Funeral Home (26307 E Huron River Dr. - Flat Rock, MI). He will lie in state Friday, April 29, 2016, from 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. funeral Mass at St. Stephen's Catholic Church (18858 Huron River Dr., New Boston, MI). Burial to follow at Michigan Memorial Park Cemetery.