Roger Alan Bockelman

Roger Alan Bockelman, of Wichita, Kansas, passed away on Monday, September 9, 2024, at the age of 80. He was born October, 9, 1943, in Wichita, to the late Harry Christof and Gladys Faye (Ahlerich) Bockelman. Brother to Betty, Larry, Jan, and Charles.

When young, Roger filled his time with his siblings and friends. He especially liked to ride his bike around town, in fact, after getting his first used bicycle, he tore it apart and rebuilt it. This tells you where his mechanical aptitude began. His father owned a machine shop and Roger gained his immense machine knowledge from him. This machine-driven knowledge lasted his lifetime. From tearing apart those early bicycles, to jumping on his brother’s motorcycle and taking off on a ride around town, he was proud to use what he’d learn when it came his first motorcycle at age 15 and in the town of Goodland, KS, it was just the beginning of the man he’d become.

In junior high, he was the pitcher on the baseball team and played basketball, yet his knowledge for the future was truly honed in on in the 3 years of machine shop at East High School. Knowledge that helped him land his first job at Garwin Machine Shop. Roger attended Wichita State University, yet it was in 1961, that a chance meet, through a mutual friend, changed his life when Judith Finney stepped into his world. Everything the two experienced came with a story, beginning with the day they wed. It was January 26, 1963, at Redeemer Lutheran Church, in Wichita. He wore a dark suit and tie and she a beautiful white tea length dress with a vail and even though it was a very cold and snowy winter day it didn’t stop the two from exchanging I do’s before heading to his sisters in Oklahoma for the honeymoon. Together, the bond built was strong, they grew together, each year better than the last, they traveled to over 40 states, and they were proud of the memories created in their 61 years.

When welcoming children Starla, in 1963 and Stacy in 1968, another side of Roger came out and he was sure to let his children know they were loved. Like when young, there was time at Joyland Amusement Park and riding the same wooden roller coaster he had. Not only that, there were many family vacations to which most included some time on a coaster along with boating, water skiing, motorcycles and rail buggies as well.

Having a solid career was part of who Roger was. He was a machinist with Boeing Aircraft and titles he carried were: lead man, supervisor, then went to finance as a senior cost analyst. He was integral part of helping build the camera that went to the moon through Martin Marietta in Lakewood, Colorado, traveled to many states in this position, along with London and Tokyo, and thankful to pick up work at Cessna during layoffs, he eventually gave a proud 40 years to Boeing before he retired.

He was never given anything. Worked hard for everything he owned and didn’t quite. Even after working full time for Boeing and all the overtime he could get, he went home, ate dinner and went to work in his garage rebuilding wrecked cars he bought. He was a one man shop as he did all the mechanical work, body work, and paint. He’d buy them and turn them into show quality prizes.

Roger bought his first Harley Davidson motorcycle at age 20 and his first ski boat at 21. He loved motorcycles, fast cars, and fast boats. There was time riding rail buggies in Waynoka, Oklahoma at “Little Sahara” sand dunes, he and Judy were in a card club with 4 others couples that played pitch from September to April, and played for 33 years together. And though life with the people who surrounded him was full, he still had room in his heart for fur babies too, some of who were: dogs, Lukey, Jake, Shawn & Sid, Bear and cat, Pepper.

Having an amazing life, it wasn’t until he become a grandfather to Taylor, Tanner, Tymber, Hannah and James in which his heart was truly full. Like he and his children, he took the grandchildren for roller coaster rides too, attended their every event from elementary through college and took pride in teaching them some of the gifts he’d perfected in his lifetime.

“Roger lived, loved, and laughed to the fullest for almost all of his life. Only in the last 4 years or so were things very different. He still enjoyed what he could, but the disease of dementia took so much out of him. He is in heaven now with so many of his friends and family. I know he’s smiling down on us, while talking to God about all of the things he always wondered about. I know he is at peace now and just like we have everlasting life with our God in heaven. I will forever love you. - Your wife Judy.”

Preceded by his parents; sister, Betty Schiebinger; and brothers, Larry and Charles Bockelman. Those left to honor his memory are wife, Judy; daughters, Starla Kay Padgett and Stacy (Gary) Wall; sister, Jan Schmidt; and grandchildren: Taylor Padgett, Tanner Padgett, Tymber Padgett, Hannah Patterson, and James Wall.

A visitation for Roger will be held Monday, September 16, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, with family present beginning at 11:30 AM, at Resthaven Mortuary, with a funeral service at 1:00 PM, followed by a graveside service. All at Resthaven Mortuary and Gardens of Memory, Garden of Gospels, 11800 West Highway 54, Wichita, KS 67209.