Robert (Bob) L. Bock, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle passed away peacefully on February 17th 2025, at the age of 96. Bob was born on May 11, 1928, in Maquoketa, Iowa, to Harry Bock and Florence (Bloore) Bock. He was the oldest of 3 siblings: Bob, Shirley and Bill. Life on the farm back when it was simple. Bob graduated from Elwood High school in 1945 in a class of 15. In 1951 he married Madonna Ales and they had four children: Steve, Larry, Lynne and Kevin. Bob farmed during those years and won an award for Outstanding Young Farmer of Clinton County in 1961. A few years later he built and owned a feed service business in Ten Mile Iowa catering to the farmers of Clinton County. He held an appreciation dinner for his farmer clients where he grilled a hundred steaks on a wooden feed bunk, that burnt to the ground by the end of the night. Bob eventually finished his work career at DuPont in Clinton. He was a hard-working man all of his life providing for those who depended on him. In 1979 Bob remarried and shared nearly forty years of love and life with Lois Eble the mother of Tom, Sherri and Becky.
Bob was survived by his children: Steven (Jeanne) Bock of Iowa City IA, Larry (Sue) Bock of Solon IA, Lynne Ellen (Bill) Doerfler of Dallas GA, Kevin (Patty) Bock of Spartanburg SC, and favorite stepdaughter Becky (Mark) Regenwether of Albany IL. And their children and grandchildren. Also survived by his sister Shirley (Melvin) Peterson of Wyoming IA, and brother William (Virginia) Bock of St Joseph MI. And several nieces and nephews. Bob was preceded in death by his dear wife Lois (Eble) Bock in 2018.
One of the hallmarks of the Bock family is their week-long family reunions. Every other year for over 40 years they have gathered in various parts of the country to enjoy the old and get to know the new. At one of the most recent gatherings there were over 80 family members in attendance. Bob was adventurous, when others all went to explore ancient bluff dwellings he went gliding. Pulled aloft by another plane and then cut free…as a bird! He liked to water-ski when his kids were young and even jumped a homemade ramp on the Mississippi River! He got up on skis again in his seventies. Bob climbed to the top of the Sydney Harbor Bridge, Australia. Cruised the Amazon River, toured Alaska, traversed a mile-long zip line in Costa Rica, and rafted the whitewater of the famed Chattooga River. Bob enjoyed trout fishing in the Iowa streams and playing tennis for many years with his friends at the YMCA in Clinton. And if a resort had a wave runner, you can be sure Bob was going for a ride with Lois on the back! He even raced his car at the Cordova drag strip! Bob leaves a legacy of love, laughter, and kindness that will continue to inspire all who knew him. May he rest in peace, knowing he was loved and admired by many.
A celebration of Robert’s life will be held at the Pape Funeral Home 2308 Pershing Blvd. Clinton, IA 52732 on March 29th 2025, 12 PM. A gathering of family and friends will take place from 10 AM until the service hour at Pape Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Moments Hospice of Cedar Rapids in honor of Robert’s memory.
