Ron Gocken, age 81, of Keats, Kansas, passed away May 30, 2023, after a long battle with Leukemia.
He was born June 4, 1941 in Alexandria, South Dakota, the son of Clarance and Marguerite (Letcher) Gocken. Ron grew up on a farm near Wakonda, South Dakota, later the family moved to a farm near Royalton, Minnesota. He graduated from Royalton High School and was drafted into the army.
He served his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and then was stationed at Fort Riley. He then was deployed and served a year in Vietnam.
While at Fort Riley he met his future wife, Marcella Chapman. They were married on July 2, 1966 at the Keats United Methodist Church, after Ron returned home from Vietnam. They were blessed with a son, Darrell L. Gocken.
Ron was an electrician by trade, working for Mobile Traveler in Junction City for many years. He then went to work for V&V Electric in Manhattan before retiring in 2008.
He enjoyed fishing, playing the guitar, and working in his shop on small engines, the garden tractor, or whatever project someone brought him to repair.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and his sister Loretta Jensen and brother Richard Gocken.
Ron is survived by his wife Marcella, his son Darrell and his wife Amanda, his two special grandchildren: Brandy Gocken and Dillan Gocken; also, his siblings: Margie Majeski and her husband Keith, Jerry Gocken and his wife Jane, Charlie Gocken and his wife Kathy; his brother-in-law Richard Jensen, and sister-in-law Lynn Gocken, and his many nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends during a visitation from 6:30 until 8:00 p.m. Friday June 2, 2023 at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home in Manhattan.
Funeral services for Mr. Gocken will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday June 3, 2023 at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Chapel, with the Rev. Kevin Larson officiating. Interment with military honors will follow at the Sunrise Cemetery in Manhattan.
Memorial contributiuons in memory of Ron are suggested to the Keats Center or a Charity of the Donors Choice. Contributions may be sent in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.