Ronald Joseph Ocken

Ronald Joseph Ocken, son of Lawrence and Mary (Baumhover) Ocken, was born April 28, 1943, at Templeton, Iowa. He attended Sacred Heart School through the third grade. Ronald then attended Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School in Vinton, Iowa, graduating in 1961. He then went on to get a Bachelor’s Degree from University of Iowa in 1969 and a Master’s Degree from the University of Minnesota in 1972.

Ron worked as a programmer analyst for the State of Iowa in Des Moines; 3M Company in St. Paul, Minnesota; Thermo King in Bloomington, Minnesota and then for First Data Resources in Omaha, Nebraska, retiring in 2001.

Ron was a member of St. Leo’s Catholic Church in Omaha and a fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes. Throughout the years, he enjoyed Ballroom dancing, downhill skiing, travelling, and playing bridge and sudoku. Family was very important to him. He loved following his great nieces and nephews in their activities. Ron simply carried on and didn’t let his disabilities get in his way.

On Tuesday, August 4, 2020, Ron died at Risen Son Christian Village in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He was 77 years, 3 months and 7 days of age.

He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings: Joleen Irlbeck and  Leonette Irlbeck; two childhood siblings Larry Ocken and Lavonne Ocken; and two brothers-in-law Leo Schoeppner and Vernon Irlbeck.

Ron is survived by a special friend Joan Justice of Minden; siblings: Alice (Wayne) Rupiper of Roselle; Janice (Harlan) Wolterman of Bellevue, Nebraska; Robert (Lynn) Ocken of Cedar Rapids; Merle (Nancy) Ocken of DeWitt; brother-in-law Keith Irlbeck of Northfield, Minnesota; special caregiver Sara Reikofski of Bellevue, NE; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Memorials may be directed to Kuemper High School, Carroll, Iowa

A Celebration of Life was held September 4, 2020 with burial at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Templeton, IA.