Mabel M. Bockes

Mabel M. Bockes, 95, of Grundy Center, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, February 22, 2024, at Grundy County Memorial Hospital in Grundy Center, while under the care of Cedar Valley Hospice. A celebration of life will be held in May of this year at the Cornerstone Methodist Church in Grundy Center. Memorials may be directed to Cedar Valley Hospice or the Grundy County Memorial Hospital. 

Mabel was born on April 2, 1928, in Grundy Center, Iowa, to her loving parents Wesley and Viola (Wood) Mooty. She was raised in Grundy Center and graduated from Grundy Center High School in the class of 1945. After Leon’s honorable discharge from the Army, the couple was united in marriage on September 23, 1947, and they made their home in rural Grundy Center on the farm. They welcomed their children Kathy, Karen, Kevin, and Kent, into their family. Mabel and Leon enjoyed nearly 60 happy years together in marriage until Leon’s passing in 2007.

Mabel was a member of the Methodist Church in Grundy Center for over 80 years and served the church in many capacities. Alongside her volunteer work with the church, she also enjoyed her decade of volunteer service at the Grundy County Memorial Hospital, retiring from that work at the age of 90. Mabel loved flowers and had a wonderful garden in her backyard that was often visited by people to enjoy God’s work in nature. She loved reading and was a big supporter of the local library. Mabel also enjoyed music, especially Christian music. However, her true joy in life came from spending time with her friends, neighbors, family, and especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Left to cherish her memory are her children, Kathy (Rich) Gunn, Karen Knust, Kevin (Amy) Bockes, and Kent (Dominica) Bockes; 9 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; brother Don Mooty; sisters Mary Schmidt and Joan Schroeder; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Leon; and brothers Harold and Bob Mooty.