Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND001 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 271369
Title: Joseph L. Rockey
Date: 3/9/1933-6/24/2024
Creator:
Inscription/Marks: 3/9/1933
Summary: Joseph L. Rockey, 91, of Bismarck, ND, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on June 24, 2024. Mass of Christian burial was held June 28, 2024, at Corpus Christi Church, Bismarck. According to Joseph’s wishes, his body was cremated, and his ashes buried at the St. Mary’s Cemetery in Bismarck, ND. Joe was born March 9, 1933, at St. Alexius Hospital in Bismarck to J.W. Rockey and Pauline (Braun) Swanson. He graduated from Bismarck High School in 1951. Joe met the love of his life in 1949 at a high school basketball game. The two were married on June 11, 1953, at Pro-cathedral of St. Mary Church. He worked at Universal Motors in Bismarck as a parts manager and at McCarney Ford as a car salesman in Bismarck. Joseph and his family picked up and moved in 1966 to Billings, MT, where he started working at Clark Lincoln Mercury as a car salesman until 1971. In January of 1971, his family picked up again and moved back to Bismarck. He started at Pitney Bowes as a salesman until 1995, when he retired after 25 years there. Joe was a very successful salesman, and he won many awards over the years. His biggest accomplishment was being awarded the Million-dollar club. Joe was a longtime parish member of Corpus Christi Church. He was also a member of the Bismarck Eagles Club, Bismarck Moose Lodge, Bismarck Elks Lodge for over 53 years and a Knights of Columbus member. Joe enjoyed boating, camping and rodeos in the summertime. He loved music, collecting records, and playing the accordion. Joe loved to boogie on the dance floor with his wife Margaret to a variety of polkas and waltzes. Joe’s favorite hobby of all time was cars, whether it was rebuilding motors, restoring them, or selling them. In addition, he loved to travel and visited almost every US state. Joe’s favorite trip was to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Most important to Joe though was spending time with his family. Joseph is survived by his wife, Margaret; his three children, Cheryl Jose, Pewaukee, WI, Charlyne Kemmesat, Bismarck, and Robert (Rhonda) Rockey, Bismarck; grandchildren, Breanna Jose, Milwaukee, WI; Kalee (Jonathan) Werner, Pierre, SD, Ciarra (Chad) Cason, Pewaukee, WI, Collin (Danielle) Kemmesat, Bismarck, Colton Jose, Sussex, WI, Alexis Rockey, Bismarck, Levi (Alie) Rockey, Bismarck, Dalton Kemmesat, Bismarck; great-grandchildren, Logan Cason, Brinley Cason, Avlyn Werner, Avra Werner, Halston Kemmesat, Adalyn Cason; siblings, Fred Swanson (Christine), Bismarck, Edward Swanson, Arizona; Mary Swanson (Donald), Bismarck, Sharon Ellsworth (Terry), Mandan, Karen Nagel, Bismarck, Laurie Holt, WI; and many lifelong friends. He was preceded in death by his father, J.W. Rockey; his mother, Pauline (Braun) and stepfather, Marvin Swanson; infant brother, Donald Rockey; sister, Joanna; sister-in-law, Amanda Swanson and son-in-law, Donald Jose; and aunts and uncles.
Red ID: FND_I_78860 Image ID: 517666 Image Notes: FND001 271369

Collection: FND001 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Date: -

Summary: The North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program is sponsored by the North Dakota Funeral Directors Association. The life stories of deceased North Dakotans are featured in an archvied collection. Current partners in the project are Eastgate Funeral & Cremation Services, Bismarck Evans Funeral Homes, Carrington and New Rockford Everson-Coughlin Funeral Home, Williston Fulkerson Funeral Home, Tioga Fulkerson Funeral Home, Watford City Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home, Williston Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck Springan Stevenson Funeral Home, Stanley Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson These funeral homes provide recent obituaries to the Foundation, where staff and volunteers format, edit and archive each memorial. The memorials are posted, and copies are sent to the family for their input and approval. The listing currently features more than 13,000 memorials, and is constantly updated as new memorials and histories are received.

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