Vernon Leonard Rocker, 72, Ottawa, died Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009, at Ransom Memorial Hospital, Ottawa. A Mass of Christian burial will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Ottawa.

He was born July 9, 1937, in Garnett to Clarence and Elizabeth (Wolken) Rocker.

He spent his early childhood in Garnett, moving to Scipio with his family when he was about 11. He moved to Ottawa in 1962.

He attended Richmond High School.

He worked construction and quarry work with his dad until his dad’s death in 1960. He then started working for Reno Construction as a heavy equipment operator until his retirement in 2000.

He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Ottawa, and Operating Engineers Local 101, Kansas City, Mo.

He married Charlotte Smiley May 5, 1962, in Ottawa. She survives of the home.

Other survivors include mother-in-law, Dorothy Smiley, Ottawa; sister-in-law, Neva May Smiley, Lawrence; sons, Darren Rocker, and his wife, Miki, Ottawa, and Warren Rocker, Platte City, Mo.; daughter, Vickie Sutton, and her husband, Allen, Pomona; sisters, Evelyn Whitmer, and her husband, Thurman, Wichita, Edith Sosby and her husband, Butch, Claremore, Okla., and Joann Johnson and her husband, Leroy, Mountain View, Ark.; brother, Earl “Butch” Rocker, and his wife, Sharon, Garnett; and grandchildren, Denali Stigall, Lacey Sutton and Jaron Stigall-Rocker.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Elizabeth Rocker; brothers, Delmer Rocker and Virgil Rocker; and sister, Lois Rocker.

Family will meet with friends after 1 p.m. Sunday to the service hour at Dengel & Son Mortuary, Ottawa. A rosary will be said at 7 p.m. Monday, followed by visitation at 7:30 p.m.

Burial will be at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Ottawa.

Memorial contributions can be made to Sacred Heart Catholic School in care of Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory St., Ottawa KS 66067.

Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through dengelmortuary@sbcglobal.net and made at www.ottawaherald.com.

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