"Lit a candle in memory of John H. Kock"
In loving memory of
John H. Kock
November 28, 1922 - May 9, 2016
John H. Kock, former owner of Vail Trustworthy Hardware died on May 9, 2016 at Green Hills Health Care Center in Ames, IA.
John was born on November 28, 1922 at rural Breda, IA in Jackson Township. He was the son of Kathryn Mau Kock and John H. Kock, II. John lived on a farm near Breda with his parents and family until 1936. The family moved to a farm near Wall Lake, IA until 1941 at which point they moved to a farm north of Vail, IA. On Pentecost Sunday 1944, John joined the Catholic Church at St. Ann’s in Vail, IA.
On October 24, 1944, he married Veronica A. Costello at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Vail. Rev. Dennis Clark officiated.
John and Vera farmed north of Vail until 1948 when they purchased Vail Hardware Co. In addition to selling hardware, John also did plumbing and heating. The variety store was later purchased from the Byrnes family. John & Vera ran it in conjunction with the hardware store. John also sold insurance for several years for Mutual of New York and M.F.A. Insurance Co. He worked as a plumbing and heating representative for Plumb’s Supply in Fort Dodge, IA while managing the hardware store in Vail.
John was owner and operator of Vail Trustworthy Hardware store for 43 years until his retirement in 1991. After retirement, he worked in Templeton for Rye Supply, a wholesale plumbing and heating company.
As a citizen of Vail, IA, John believed in taking a part in church and community affairs. He was Mayor of Vail for approximately ten years in the 1950s and 1960s. He was a board member of the Vail Medical Clinic and a member of the Vail Community Club for several years. John was a member of the Vail Volunteer Fire Department for over 25 years and served as Fire Chief for 6 of those years.
John played an active role in St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Vail, IA. He served on the St. Ann’s School Board, the St. Ann’s Finance Committee, was a member of the St. Ann’s Choir, and a Eucharistic minister and lector. He joined the Charles Carroll Council of the Knights of Columbus in 1945 and was a member of the 4th Degree Assembly 260 of Carroll, IA since 2014.
John was preceded in death by his father in 1987, his mother in 1996, and his brother Virgil in 1977. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Veronica (Vera); his children: Keith Kock (Mary) from Cottage Grove, MN, Kathy Doyle from New Prague, MN, Shirley Mauss (Ed) from Carver, MN, Marilyn Wykoff (Jim) from Montezuma, IA, JoAnn Miller (Dan) from Ames, IA, Annette Kock from Yorktown, VA, and John Kock (Diane) from Pleasanton, CA; 20 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-grandchild, sisters Lorene Thiede and Marian Riessen both of Harlan, several nieces and nephews including Regina Todd of Montezuma, IA and a host of friends.
Tributes
"Thank you for all you did to equip our homes, fix our plumbing and give us a local store for Christmas gifts...best hardware store ever...Cornelius "Corny" Gallagher"
"We are so sorry to hear of Johns passing. I can still remember the hardware and plumbing store, the Sunday visits after church, the many meals we shared, Growing up in Westside, and our family's being so close, we saw a lot of each other....... What a wonderful time in our life travels. My prayer is that our Heavenly Father will continue to bless and keep you all, I know that HE has welcomed John home, with these words..... Well done my good and faithful servant.......enter into your rest. Neil & Vicki Bornhoft P.S. Joann, I still remember those days....... blessings to you and your family."
"Keith, Mary & Family, We are so sorry for your loss. May God's peace comfort you."
"Vera, Kathy, and all the Kock family, Rita and I were so sorry to hear of John's passing. We remember fondly our visit on the Washington D.C. mall with you and John a few years ago. (OK, it SEEMS like just a few years ago!) To me, he will always be "Mr. Mayor" and the owner of the best hardware store in the world. During a recent visit to Templeton, I stopped by to say hello to John at his workplace. He was friendly and pleasant as always...but clearly wanted to quickly get back to work. "You don't want to get fired at age 90, you know!" What a guy. What an example to follow. With love and sympathy, Terry Murtaugh"
"I never had the chance to meet any of John's family as I only "knew" him by sitting next to him at Mass at Holy Spirit Church many many times! We are ISU fans too, he probably noticed an ISU jacket on occasion and we had a connection! I commented to him that he should be sitting up with the choir members because his voice was beautiful, I think he must've been a singer in his younger days! What a nice, nice man he was, always a pleasant smile and handshake when we would meet... In the pew...at Holy Spirit! For one last time "Peace be with you John," May he RIP and sing in heaven forever. Sincerely, Carol and Gary Stark, Carroll, IA"
"Just love you guys, Bob and Venita. Our Dads must surely be meeting each other in heaven. Your John did go there, right?"
"My addition to Bob's note. John was the dedicated ISU fan as he always would jester "it's another Iowa state first down". In the last couple years he didn't get to do that too often. We will miss him dearly at tailgate and at the games. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family. I'm honored to have known him. Venita and Bob Currie"
"Vera, JoAnn, Dan and Family, We are saddened by John's passing. What a super person, dedicated to family, friends, and ISU sports, especially football. He'll forever have a place at tailgate, with scotcharoos, and a bourbon to boot! We know you are deeply saddened too, but rest assured he is resting comfortably, and waiting patiently to be reunited in God's good time. Take care all, and reminisce with family the wonderful times. Memories are forever and what a wonderful man. Bob and Venita Currie"