Orville Kock Jr., 77 of Carroll, died Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at Regency Park Nursing Home in Carroll surrounded by his family. His long battle against Parkinsons and Post-Polio Syndrome finally coming to an end. Orville has finally reunited with his son, Mark, in Heaven, where together they’ll farm; Orville in his new Case IH tractor and Mark, his little buddy, in the buddy seat.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at Holy Spirit Church – St. John Paul II Parish in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Patrick Behm. Concelebrant will be Fr. Brian Feller. Music will be by Kathy Halbur. Lector for the Funeral Mass will be Cale Kock. Gift Bearers will be Harper Kock, Kaylee Germer, and Hannah Germer. Casket Bearers will be Brandon Staiert, Morgan Staiert, Kobe Lawson, Esden Carroll, Christian Taylor, Ryan Germer, Maison Germer, Case Kock, and Cole Kock. Burial will be in Holy Family Cemetery near Lidderdale.
Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m., Tuesday at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll with a Christian Wake Service at 7 p.m. Additional visitation will be from 9:30-10:15 a.m. on Wednesday morning at Holy Spirit Church. Memorials may be left at the funeral home or the church for a later designation.
Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Orville’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Orville Kock Jr. was born on March 29th, 1947, in Carroll, son of Orville Kock Sr. and Marjorie (Pietig) Kock. At the young age of 5, Orville contracted polio. He spent 6 months in a children’s hospital in Des Moines, losing the use and mobility of his left arm. After returning home, Orville never let his disability hold him back. During his younger days, Orville enjoyed horseback riding and going to the sale barn with his dad. He grew up and spent his entire life in Carroll County graduating from Kuemper Catholic High School in 1965. He then worked for Goetzinger and Steffes, Nepple Plumbing and Heating, and Carroll Lumber. Orville had a knack for building something at the drop of a hat.
On November 9th, 1968, Orville was married to, as he would say, “the love of his life”, Lois Nepple, at St. Lawrence Church in Carroll. Eventually, they bought an acreage south of Lake City where they raised their family. Orville was a lifelong farmer raising cattle, hogs, and praying for his crops of corn, beans, sorghum, and alfalfa to amount to something come harvest. Orville was part of many different organizations, such as the Carroll County Cattlemen’s Association, Pork Producers, Farmers Cooperative Board Member, a Farm Bureau member, and Archer Oil dealer.
Even though Orville had a strong work ethic and a commitment to his farm, family, and neighbors, his strengths didn’t just show up in his hard work, but some of his greatest talents were Carroll County Arm Wrestling Champion and winning the “sexiest” beard contest. He also spent time with his buddies. Every year for ten years, he enjoyed fishing in Canada and catching his quota. One of the joys in his life was going to cattle sales and the numerous “pit stops” on the way home. After the cattle sale, one of Orv’s famous quotes was, “If I buy too many at one sale, I can’t go to the next one.” But his greatest joy was making more work for his children. He enjoyed having morning coffee and donuts, so he could catch up on all the local gossip, and in the afternoon, he had “happy hour.” Orville had a very unique Euchre strategy. He would fall asleep while playing, never drop a card, always know what suit to play, and still be the champ. He enjoyed “checking his crops” and seeking out a few of his favorite local establishments where you would find him drinking his preferred drink; mist and Pepsi. He never forgot his wife, Lois’s, birthday, either. On her 40th birthday one year, he bought her a 5240 Case IH 4-wheel drive tractor. In his later years, Orville enjoyed doing tillage. He hated GPS, but in the end, he couldn’t live without it. When it didn’t work, he constantly called his son, Jeff, to figure it out.
He is survived by his wife Lois of Carroll; six children, Sheryl (David) Carroll of Lu Verne, Lisa (Matt) Lawson of Lu Verne, Pam Staiert of Carroll, Jennifer (Gregg) Taylor of Carroll, Jeff (Jayme) Kock of Lake City, and Mary (Cameron) Germer of Manning; 23 grandchildren, Alannah (Sam) Jacobson of Ottosen, Esden (Jasmine) Carroll of Fenton, Chloe Carroll of Clarion, Jessica (Joey) Carroll of Burt, Kobe (Kadi) Lawson of Algona, Halle Lawson of Burt, Ella Lawson of Lu Verne, Brandon (Lacee) Staiert of Carroll, Emily Staiert, Molly Staiert, and Morgan Staiert of Carroll, Tiffany Staiert of Dedham, Christian Taylor of Carroll, Kaylee Lafave of California, Taliya, Case, Cale, Harper, and Cole Kock of Lake City, and Bailee, Ryan, Maison, Hannah, and Kaylee Germer of Manning. Fourteen great-grandchildren: Callan, Addalie, and Wilhelmina Jacobson, Kenlee, Kason, and Kellen Lawson, Karsyn Staiert, Evangeline and Mohraya Staiert, Raegann, Jackson, and Jace Carroll, and Wren and Esme Carroll. He is also survived by his sisters, Eileen Hays of Albert City and Sue (Bill) Schrad of Carroll, and brother, Dave (Pam) Kock of Carroll and many nieces, nephews, family, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his son, Mark Kock and granddaughter Julee Kock, his parents, Orville and Marjorie Kock, father-in-law and mother-in-law, Norbert and Lorene Nepple, brothers-in-law, Jack Hays and Wayne Nepple, sister-in-law, Deb Kock, niece, Megan Golwitzer, and nephew, Scott Nepple.
We would like to thank Garden View, Journey Senior Services, Regency Park Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, and St. Anthony’s Hospice for the love, care, and support of Orville. There is no place like home, but you created a new home where Orville was cared for by all.
