Joseph Parks Stocker Jr.

Joseph Parks Stocker, Jr., 64, finished his race with this life and went to be with The Lord Jesus late Thursday evening, October 2, 2003. Joe along with his wife, Linda, and son, Spencer have been living in Seattle, WA since May while he was receiving treatment for leukemia at the bone marrow transplant unit of the Cancer Care Alliance & University of Washington Medical Center. The family will return to their home in Oklahoma City, OK where Vondel Smith & Son's Mortuary South will be handling the arrangement for services to be held at Southwest Baptist Church, 1300 SW 54, Oklahoma City, OK on Friday, October 10, 10 a.m. Joe was born & raised in Omaha, Nebraska along with his brothers David Peter Stocker and Thomas Noble Stocker. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Parks Stocker, Sr. & Genene Noble Stocker. He graduated from Westside High School & University of Nebraska where he excelled in academics & swimming. Upon graduation from college, Joe served in the U.S. Army in Germany & married his former wife, Jacqueline Anderegg. After his military service, he completed his Master's degree in Education from the University of Nebraska and began his lifelong career in teaching and coaching swimming. Joe & Jackie were blessed with their beautiful daughter, Leigh Jo Berger and through Leigh and husband Ryan they were given the extra blessing of a granddaughter, Makenna. Joe's teaching and coaching career lead him from Omaha to California to Tulsa & Oolagah, OK and finally to Oklahoma City where he taught at Highland West Junior High and coached for Westmoore High School. He completed his teaching career at Putnam City North High School where he taught science and coached the swim team for several years. He was a member of the American Swim Coaches Association and United States Swimming, an olympic development program. He worked with and started many swim clubs over the years. It is his hope that his current swim club, Oklahoma Aquatics Alliance, will continue to coach young people toward excellence for many years to come. It was after moving to Oklahoma City that Joe met and married his wife, Linda in 1990. Their marriage immediately expanded his family with three children, John, Jack & Tricia Evans along with a host of other relatives that love him. In 1991 their family was further blessed and expanded with the arrival of their son, Spencer Parks Stocker. During this part of his life he began to attend Southwest Baptist Church with his family & accepted Jesus Christ as his saviour. Joe's family grew when John & wife, Joanna, gave him 4 grandchildren, Britanie, Bo, Tucker & Jessie. He was looking forward to Tricia giving him a new son-in-law, Jason Cates, next June. Joe's love & appreciation for God & family grew even stronger during these final years. Joe continued to love learning throughout his life. He enjoyed music, reading, writing & telling stories, movies, & long explanations. He had a passion for coaching, his family & friends, & he loved sports of every kind. Joe strove for excellence in everything he did & he helped many others to do the same. He will be sorely missed & fondly remembered by many. As we ache with the pain of missing him, he would tell us to, 'swim through it and finish our own race well.' Those who wish to express their love to the family can share remembrances of Joe with his family by e-mail to joestocker@earthlink.net. VONDEL L. SMITH & SON MORTUARY 6934 S. Western 634-1439