Larry Eugene Bocka, age 70, died at Mt. Carmel St. Ann’s Hospital in Westerville, Ohio, on March 10, 2017. Larry was born to Emil R. and Leora (Gasser) Bocka on August 17, 1946, in Mansfield, Ohio.
In 1953, Larry became paralyzed from polio. The newspaper referred to his case as the worst that year. He was a quadriplegic the rest of his life, needing daily care and help with even the most simple tasks. He was tutored by Jesse Beer through high school. After graduation, Larry attended OSU Mansfield for two years and graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelor Degree in Psychology and a Master Degree in Social Work. He was employed at the Rehabilitation Service of North Central Ohio (Rehab Center) in Mansfield for 34 years, until his retirement in 2007.
At age 27, Larry turned to Jesus in repentance and became a member of the Apostolic Christian Church on Illinois Avenue in Mansfield. He devoutly loved and served the Lord for 43 years, and taught Sunday school for over 25 of those years.
Surviving are Larry’s sisters, Loretta (Aaron) Steffen, Elaine (David) Tuttle, Joyce (Lanny) Young, and Elise (Kenneth) Baldridge; a sister-in-law, Karen (Mike) Bocka; aunts, Ethyle Bocka Snyder and Marie Gasser; an uncle, Nelson Ramsier; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He will be lovingly remembered by his family and a host of friends and wonderful helpers.
Preceding Larry in death were his parents, Emil and Leora Bocka; brother, Michael; brother-in-law, Kenneth Baldridge; and two infant nephews.
The family will receive friends from 1-3 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, March 14, 2017, at the Ontario Home of Wappner Funeral Directors, 100 S. Lexington-Springmill Rd. The funeral service will be held Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. in the Apostolic Christian Church, 84 N. Illinois Avenue. Burial will follow in Mansfield Memorial Park. Memorial contributions may be made to Apostolic Christian Home for the Handicapped, 2125 Veterans Road, Morton, IL 61550 or Apostolic Christian Church, 84 N. Illinois Avenue, Mansfield, OH 44905.
Words of comfort may be expressed at www.wappner.com
