Kenneth Olin Rockey

Died July 24, 2014, age 88. Formerly of Evanston, father of Bob (Michele) Rockey and Alice (Walt) Woodard. He had seven grandchildren, Brianna (John) Gohde, Kristopher Rockey, Caitlin (Eric) Steinbacher, Nate Rockey; Collin, Cameron and Thomas Woodard, and loving extended family around the country. He is prededed in death by his dear wife Mary Lou (nee Sears), his parents Bishop Clement and Helen Rockey, and both his brothers, Harold and Lee Rockey.

There will be two services held in Kenneth's honor. Gathering at Redeemer UCC, W220 N4915 Townline Road, Menomonee Falls, WI, on Sunday, August 3, 2014, 4-5 PM. Memorial Service at 5PM. Memorial Service at First United Methodist Church, 1620 Hinman Ave., Evanston, IL, on Monday, August 4, 2014, at 3PM with visitiation to follow. Burial will be private.

Memorials are suggested to go to Sussex Outreach Services, Sussex, WI (<a href="http://www.sussexareasos.org">www.sussexareasos.org</a>) or the Athens Regional Foundation, Athens, GA, <a href="http://www.athenshealth.org/foundation">www.athenshealth.org/foundation</a> for their Prayer Garden; please earmark checks with Kenneth Rockey's name.

Kenneth Olin Rockey
January 21, 1926- July 24, 2014

Kenneth Olin Rockey was born in British colonial Moradabad, U.P., India, the first of three sons of Methodist missionary parents, Bishop Clement and Helen Rockey. (All four of his grandparents were also missionaries.) He attended an American style boarding school, Woodstock, in the foothills of the Himalayas, graduating high school by age 16 in 1942. He arrived in the USA for college during the height of the WW II, taking 3 months to navigate U-boat infested waters. He enlisted into the US Navy and was trained to be an electrical engineer at Northwestern University. He graduated after the war and was discharged from the Navy, only to be mustered up again during the Korean War, this time serving the Army in missile guidance testing at White Sands Proving Grounds in New Mexico.

From then Ken worked as an electrical engineer, with over 35 years for Universal Oil Products, Des Plaines, Illinois, designing instrumentation and control systems for oil refineries and chemical plants domestically and across the world including Germany, Sicily, Mexico and China. His career spanned from the use of slide-rules to computers and he has three patents to his name. He retired in 1991.

Outside of work, Ken was constantly active in his church and community in Evanston, Illinois. A member of First United Methodist Church since the 1950's, he was a High School youth counselor for 10+ years for their MYF group throughout the turbulence of the 1960's and early 70's. He then served as Scoutmaster for the church's Troop 11 for more than a decade and later served the NE Illinois Scout Council by editing a District newsletter for years, being awarded Scouting's Silver Beaver award. He also edited the church newsletter Soundings at the same time for at least a decade. Ken served on numerous church committees and was a Trustee, as well as a long term member of the choir, countless Rummage Sales, teaching adult Bible study and a range of other endeavors.

Ken met his wife Mary Lou (Sears) through the church's singles group PKK (Post Kollege Klub) and they married in 1957, staying in Evanston. They were involved together in church choir, PTA, Scouts and countless other projects. They had two children, Bob (Michele) and Alice Woodard (Walt). Their seven grandchildren are Brianna (John) Gohde, Kristopher Rockey, Caitlin (Eric) Steinbacher, Nate Rockey; Collin, Cameron and Thomas Woodard. Widowed in 2000, he never took his wedding ring off. Ken ultimately moved to The Arboretum in Menomonee Falls WI in 2007 to be closer to family and attended Redeemer United Church of Christ in nearby Sussex, WI.

Ken is preceded in death by his parents, both his brothers (Harold and Lee) and his wife. He succumbed to progressive heart and kidney failure complicated by longterm diabetes. He died quietly and peacefully in his apartment under just five days of home hospice care.

Ken was known his whole life for his kind and giving spirit, dry sense of humor, his delicious use of puns, his care for youth and his service to church and community. Just prior to death he attended Bible Study until four months ago, last sang in church choir three months back at Easter, checked his email three days prior, had a crossword puzzle half-done and watched a baseball game the day before his end on this earth. Though frustrated with his weakened state, he suffered no physical pain despite his illnesses and was confident for his spiritual future ahead.

There will be two services: Sunday, August 3, 2014: visitation at 4:00 pm and service at 5:00 pm at Redeemer UCC, W220 N4915 Townline Road, Menomonee Falls, WI, and then Monday, August 4, 2014: service at 3:00 pm and visitation to follow at First United Methodist Church, 1620 Hinman Avenue, Evanston, Ill. Burial will be private.

Memorials are suggested to go to Sussex Outreach Services, Sussex, WI (<a href="http://www.sussexareasos.org">www.sussexareasos.org</a>) or the Athens Regional Foundation, Athens, GA, <a href="http://www.athenshealth.org/foundation">www.athenshealth.org/foundation</a> for their Prayer Garden; please earmark checks with Kenneth Rockey's name.