William (Bill) Bock was born in Manitou, Manitoba on December 24, 1928 – a Christmas gift to Johannes and Amalie Bock – their first-born son.
Bill attended school close to home until Grade 10, when he left for high school at Mennonite Collegiate Institute. Following high school Bill attended Normal School, receiving his Teachers Certificate. At the age of 18, he took over teaching half of his father’s 59 students in a school down the road from where his father taught.
On June 26, 1956, Bill married Viola Kroeker of Winkler, MB with the shared intention to serve God, and raise a Christian family, all the days of their life.
After teaching briefly in a Winnipeg high school, the call to adventure led Bill and Viola north to Cambridge Bay and Inuvik, in the Northwest Territories. The adventure continued with a move to Medicine Hat and then to Edmonton for the duration of his life. Throughout the teaching related adventures Bill was engaged in varied teaching/administration roles, and leadership roles in education. He was an innovative teacher, a thoughtful administrator, and espoused the values of education all of his life.
Bill never stopped being a teacher. After he left formal teaching roles, he found his way into the tree nursery business, and continued teaching…about trees and shrubs, landscaping, and health remedies! For the past 20+ years, Bill was engaged in the community as Chair of the Society for the Improvement of Childcare & Educational Services/Workshops of Alberta (SICES), as well as many other projects.
Bill was joyfully involved in the church all his life, and often served as a deacon, on the board, and in many other ways.
William was predeceased by his parents, his sisters Elizabeth, Mary, Helen and Elfrieda, his son Arthur, his wife Viola, and great-grandson David.
Dad will be greatly missed and forever remembered by his three children Elizabeth (Lisa) Eriksson (Ron), Gerald Bock (Jackie), Lorraine Schmidt (Ron), by Rose Bock, 12 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. His memory will also be cherished by his brothers John Bock (Ruth), George Bock (Pam) of Winnipeg, and Bernie Bock (Katie) of Edmonton, and sisters Agatha Bock of Winnipeg, and Emelie Berlanda of Vernon, BC.
In honor of Bill’s desire to further the message of the gospel and provide food and shelter for the un-homed, those who wish to make a memorial gift are invited to donate to Hope Mission or similar charities. www.hopemission.com/donate
A Visitation will be held Friday, March 3, 2023 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at Serenity Funeral Service, 5311 91 Street NW, Edmonton. Graveside Service will take place at 11:00 am on Saturday, March 4, 2023 at South Haven Cemetery followed by a Celebration of Life Service at 1:00 pm at Sunrise Community Church, 3303 37 Street NW, Edmonton.
Tribute wall - a place to share your memories and condolences
Betty and Willard
Our prayers and love to our family, Rose (Arthur’swife), Lisa, Gerry and Lorraine and their families. Bill was our brother-in-law, and we have so many wonderful memories of Bill and Viola, and the whole family! Visiting them, hearing of Bill’s latest adventures, his incredibly active mind with so many ideas and a huge variety of topics! When we purchased a new home he gave us brilliant ideas to keep in mind while planning our landscaping.
I, Willard remembering helping him finish his master’s thesis… at a family reunion in Winkler, he commented that he didn’t feel he had sufficient material, but I said let’s do it now. I couldn’t imagine him not having enough material to make an excellent paper. I got out a typewriter, Bill told me what to write. I can’t remember how long we took, but we put it together, and Bill sent it off. Bill received a 100% for his thesis. That was his brilliant mind at work, and characterized his life in so many ways.
I really wish we could be there with you at the celebration of his life, memorial service. We’d give all of you hugs, cry, laugh and celebrate! We love you.
Walter Epp
John 8:12 Jesus spoke …….”I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life”. Bill lived such a life and Selma and I pray that God will comfort you in you berevment.