John C. Rockey

John C. Rockey, 68, of Tigerton, passed away Friday, March 21, 2014, at his home. John Charles Rockey was born May 5, 1945, in Manitowoc, to Lester and Gertrude (Kauss) Rockey. He went to college and learned to be a tool and die maker. While in college he was drafted into the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged in October 1966. John was employed in the aerospace industry and a variety of other machine shops on the West Coast. John was united in marriage on Oct. 1, 1988, to Annette Lang in Las Vegas, Nev. After a 35-year career he retired in 1994 and moved from California to settle in Tigerton. He started his own small machine shop named Roc-Tool & Engineering, specializing in making small quantity items and the one-of-a-kind part. Over the years, he was proud to mentor a few high school students to teach them the tool and die trade. John was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Tigerton. He served on the Tigerton Village Board for six years, helped out with the Tigerton Advancement Association, and is a past Tigerton Lions Club member. John always enjoyed visiting with friends and family on the West Coast, and he liked doing small projects in his shop. Survivors include his wife, Annette; a daughter, Stephanie (Tom) Bowlby, of Redondo Beach, Calif.; a stepson, Brent (Sylvia) Dandridge, of Hawthorne, Calif.; and a stepdaughter, Andrea Dandridge, of Compton, Calif. There are 11 grandchildren, Chance, Matthew, Isaiah, LaDarius, Stephan, Aqeel, Jamaal, Aslam, Saahirah, Saabirah and Taaj. He is further survived by a brother, Kenneth (Coleen) Rockey, of Culver City, Calif., nieces, nephews, many other relatives and friends. John was preceded in death by his parents, an infant sister, a brother, James (Linda) Rockey, and two stepchildren, Aaron and Shiree Dandridge. The funeral service will be held Thursday, March 27, at 11 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church, Tigerton. The Rev. Matthew Uttenreither will officiate, and burial will be at Inglewood Park Cemetery, Inglewood, Calif. Friends may call on Thursday from 9 a.m. until the time of the service at the church. The Beil-Didier Funeral Home, Tigerton, is assisting the family. Online condolences may be sent via www.beil-didier.com.