Richard "Dick" P. Bockert

Richard “Dick” P. Bockert, 86, of Fort Dodge, IA, died Monday, January 2, 2023, at the Paula J. Baber Hospice Home, after a short and hard-fought battle with cancer.  Private family services will be held at a later date.  Memorials may be directed to the Paula J. Baber Hospice Home.  Arrangements are with Historic Bruce Funeral Home of Fort Dodge.

Richard was born September 2, 1936, in Iowa City, IA, the son of Kenneth Leo and Mary Mercedes (Cain) Bockert.  He graduated from Fort Dodge High School in 1954, where he was a golden gloves boxer.  In 1954, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and proudly served his country until his honorable discharge in 1957.  In 1958, he returned to Fort Dodge before moving to Chicago, IL in 1959 to attend Mechanical Draftsman Technical School.  He worked as a Merchant Marine for 38 years until his retirement in 2007. He was a member of Seafarers’ International Union and in 1995, his Seafarers career as a Helmsman was spotlighted in the Fort Dodge Messenger.  Dick worked hard his entire life.  He enjoyed gambling and riding his Trek bike (18 miles a day), and talking with his many friends and neighbors at Lindal Apartments where he resided. He was an independent man who did things his way.  Dick will be greatly missed.

Dick is survived by his daughter:  Julia “Julie” Groesbeck of Fort Dodge; grandson:  T.J. Groesbeck of Eagle Grove, IA; and 2 great grandsons:  Airman Gage Groesbeck of Lewis-McChord Air Force Base in Seattle, WA and Alex Groesbeck of Nevada, IA.

He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings.