John Thomas Hocker

Dr. John T Hocker went home to be with the lord Sunday February 26. John was born on October 19, 1928 in Lake Wales, Fl to Thomas and Christine (Wall) Hocker. His family moved to Jefferson City, Mo. in 1936. After graduating from high school John served in the army during the Korean War. He graduated from Purdue University in 1952 and from Kansas University Medical School in 1956. From 1956 to 1958 he was a surgical resident at Duval Medical Center. From 1958 to 1962 he did his orthopedic residency at the Campbell Clinic and in 1962 received a fellowship in Orthopedic Surgery from the Campbell Clinic. In 1962 he joined the practice of Dr. John Lovejoy and in 1964 he started his private practice retiring in 2001 after 39 years of practicing medicine in Jacksonville. He joined St. Luke’s staff in 1962 and became chairman of the Orthopedics department in 1971. He was also chief of JHEP the Jacksonville Hospital Education Program and trained many future orthopedic surgeons. In 1993 St. Luke’s hospital honored Dr. Hocker by establishing the John T Hocker, M.D. Orthopedic Lectureship recognizing his 22 years as head of the hospital’s department of Orthopedic Surgery.

John was an avid sailor and golfer. His second home was San Jose Country Club and he could be found there any day the club was open.

John was preceded in death by his sister Pauline Blume. He is survived by his two children Tommy and Susan (Andrew Taylor) nieces Janet (Blume) Renkoski, Leavenworth, Ks. Marilyn (Blume) Carroll, Des Moines, Ia. Nephew Kevin Blume, St. Louis, Mo and three grandchildren Lyndsey Hocker, Michael Murdock and Jay Thompson.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at the Church of our Savior, 12236 Mandarin Rd. Interment will follow in Mandarin Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family requests a donation to the John T Hocker charitable foundation to provide scholarships to deserving medical students. HARDAGE-GIDDENS OAKLAWN CHAPEL, 4801 San Jose Blvd is serving the family.