Baker City, Oregon
Elmer “Ole” Van Ocker, 87, of Baker City, died Nov. 19, 2001, at St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center in Boise.
His funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Pastor Ralph Holcomb will officiate.
Elmer was born Nov. 30, 1913, at Walla Walla, Wash., to Edna and Ernest Van Ocker. He attended school and graduated from Weston High School at the age of 16.
He was a life-long mechanic and worked mostly on farm and diesel equipment. He had his own repair shop at Haines from 1955 through 1969. From there he went to work at International Harvester Co. in Moro until 1971. He moved to Baker City and was the city shop foreman until his retirement.
In 1933, Elmer married Virginia Wilson at Walla Walla. They both enjoyed fishing and camping all of their lives.
Elmer was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Mildred Skeen.
Survivors include his wife, Virginia of Baker City; sons, Garry Van Ocker and his wife Joan, of Athena, Steve Van Ocker and his wife, Barbra, of Boise; a daughter, Joan Rice of Athena; grandchildren, Mark Van Ocker, and his wife, Allison, of Milton-Freewater, Megan Peterson and her husband, Bryan, of Gig Harbor, Wash., Scott Van Ocker and his wife, Tracy, and Amber Van Ocker, all of Boise, and Jim Rice of Florida; great-grandchildren, Camdon and Kailey Van Ocker of Milton-Freewater, Page and Demie Van Ocker of Boise and Jacob and Clayton Rice of Florida.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Baker City Elks Lodge through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: The Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, November 23, 2001
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor