Services will be Wednesday, Jan. 15 at 2 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Tekamah for Clarence E. “Bud” Mock, Jr., 75 who died unexpectedly Jan. 11, 1997 at Memorial Community Hospital in Blair. Rev. Judith Clark Wharton will officiate. Burial will be in the Tekamah Cemetery with military graveside rites by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 3304 of Tekamah.

Clarence E. Mock, Jr. was born Oct. 12, 1921 in Kennard to Clarence E. and Marguerite Ellen Denton Mock.

After his graduation from Ulysses High School in 1940 he entered the Civilian Conservation Corps, where he remained until he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1942. He was seriously wounded in battle on Guam during the south Pacific Campaign and received the purple heart. After spending over a year recovering at a military hospital in Seattle, Wash., he returned to Craig, Nebr. and re-entered civilian life.

He married Donna Lee Sommerer Sept. 16, 1948 in Craig. They moved to Tekamah where he became the Burt County treasurer in 1949. He served the public in that position until his retirement in 1990.

He actively participated in civic life. A past commander and adjutant of the La Frenz Post No. 15 of the American Legion, he was a “blue cap” member, who earned the “Distinguished Service in the Field of American Citizenship” award in 1995. He was also a member of the “Forty and Eight”, was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and served on the Burt County Veterans Committee for 40 years.

From 1953 to 1977, he was secretary for the International Order of Odd Fellows. He served as secretary for the Tekamah Cemetery Board for 40 years and was a member of the Masonic Lodge.

He and a handful of others were responsible for organizing Tekamah’s first Little League baseball program. He was the Little League treasurer and official scorekeeper for a number of years. He coached Legion baseball in Craig after his return from the war and later coached a team in Tekamah’s first organized girls’ softball program.

He was an active member of the United Methodist Church in Tekamah, participating on the church’s governing board and other church organizations.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Robert C. Mock and a sister, Marguerite E. Carlson.

He is survived by his wife, Donna of Tekamah; a son and daughter-in-law, Clarence E. III and Hope Mock of Fremont; a daughter and son-in-law, Barbara Mock and Joseph Stephens of Houston, Tex.; sisters, Catherine Andrew of Herman and Frances Pastory of Omaha; three grandchildren, Noah Mock, Harry Stephens and Andrew Stephens and two step-grandchildren, Brooke Renard and Corby Renard.

Casket bearers will be Jim Andrew, Rob Andrew, Robert Mock, Greg Mock, Dick Carlson, Dee Carlson, Craig Sommerer, Jay Sommerer, Jon Sommerer, Joel Sommerer and Steven Schultz.

Gertrude Sells will be organist.

Memorials are suggested to United Methodist Church, Tekamah Fire Department and Tekamah Rescue Squad.

Hamel-Peck-Pelan Funeral Home in Tekamah is in charge of arrangements.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~