Burton Bockel

BURTON L. BOCKEL LANSING, IL
Burton Bockel, age 72, of Lansing, passed away after a courageous battle with Mylodisplastic Syndrome and Acute Leukemia on Sunday, December 11, 2011. He was married to his loving wife, Jan, for 48 years. Also surviving are his three children: David (Yvonne) Bockel of Hammond, Diane (Bill) Baginski of Munster, and Donna (David) Patton of St. Joseph, IL; grandchildren: Nicole Baginski and Reid and Erin Patton; brother, Sherman Bockel of Buffalo Grove, IL; and brother-in-law, Keith Reifel of Lockport, IL. Mr. Bockel was preceded in death by his parents: Jack and Ethel Bockel, sister, Geri Reifel; sister-in-law, Lisa Bockel; and niece and nephews. Funeral services for Mr. Bockel will be held Thursday, December 15, 2011 at 10:00 AM at the Schroeder-Lauer Funeral Home, 3227 Ridge Road, Lansing, IL. Interment will follow at Assumption Cemetery in Glenwood. Friends are invited to visit with the family on Wednesday from 3:00-8:00 PM at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Burton's memory to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, www.lls.org. Burton was a 1957 graduate of Bremen High School. Right after graduation, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps and proudly served for three years. He then went to Greer Technical School earning a degree in Diesel Mechanics. He started working for the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) in Chicago in 1961 and retired from there 37 1/2 years later as a Bus Repairman/ Benchman. In 1974, Burton's wife, Jan, opened her Just Beautiful ceramic business, which they worked side by side running. He was a true supporter of his wife and children all through his life. They were all involved in PTA events, science fairs, sports, dancing schools, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, academic achievements, and assorted projects. Whatever it was, he was there with his love and support. He also loved gardening, fishing, and golf until his arthritis got too bad, and just being out of doors. He especially loved camping, first with his wife and children in the pop-up, and then on to different campers when it was just him and his wife. Their enjoyment of travel also took them to the Caribbean many times. Burton was a true friend who would be there for anyone to do whatever was needed. He especially enjoyed his family and was always spending time with them and the grandchildren, who were the apples of his eyes. He was a very loving husband, devoted father, grandfather, brother and friend who will be dearly missed by all who knew him. www.schroederlauer.com