Dr. Benjamin Paul Bockstege Jr

Dr. Benjamin Paul Bockstege Jr. at age 88 passed away in his sleep on November 22, 2019. A memorial service was held in Rock Hill, SC over the

2019 Thanksgiving weekend for family and friends locally. Interment will follow in Moscow Indiana Summer 2020. Dr. Bockstege was born 27 February 1931 in Evansville, Indiana during a blinding snowstorm and the beginning of the Great Depression. He was the second child of Benjamin Paul Bockstege Sr. and was preceded in death by his sister Nancy and his wife of 64 years Rachel Ann. He grew up in Evansville, played football at Reitz High School and went to college at the University of Indiana in Bloomington. While there he met the love of his life, Rachel Wyman and married her on a blistering hot day in Moscow, Indiana June 29,

1952. After his marriage Ben entered Officer Candidate School (OCS) and joined the Navy as an officer. He finished his commitment to the Navy as a LTJG in December 1955 and moved to West Chicago, IL where he and Rachel raised the first of their young sons, David, while teaching mathematics at Wheaton High School. He studied for his Masters Degree while Rachel and he produced two more sons, Paul and John. After his young family suffered several severe northern Illinois snowstorms, an offer to relocate to Hollywood, FL became enticing even with a reduction in salary. So the family packed up their belongings in a used Seagram’s Whiskey truck and headed to warmer climes. Shortly thereafter a fourth son, Fritz arrived. While in South Florida Ben taught Mathematics at McArthur High School and was offered a position at the newly formed Broward Community College. During his tenure there his studies led to a Doctorate of Education (EDD) and a Doctorate of Arts. He also served as the president of a new college called Hollywood College while teaching at BCC. He taught at BCC (now Broward College) as Department Head on and off for 30 some years before retiring on 29 February 1996. Many of his students will remember him teaching calculus in his signature jump suit with just a piece of chalk and no notes. After his retirement from BCC, he and his wife Rachel began a second career of traveling the world and visiting their various children and grandchildren. Dr. Bockstege was very involved with his church throughout his lifetime. His first position was as financial secretary for St. Mark’s Lutheran in Hollywood in 1962. He also served as president and vice president of the congregation for several terms and served as both elder and head elder. His leadership helped the congregation to build a new sanctuary, double the size of the school and increase the church property to the size of a city block. He and his wife Rachel spearheaded a campaign to fund and install a pipe organ and marble flooring in the sanctuary. Ben and Rachel were friends with every pastor at St. Marks and often had them at their homes for parties and fellowship. They also were regular attendees at Luther Memorial in Hollywood in recent years and made many friends there. It is difficult to describe Ben without also mentioning Rachel as they were a matched pair. As his wife preceded him to Heaven he would often mention in his last days that he had been speaking with her. His last words were “I am ready to go” when asked where, he said “Home”. We know where that is now. Dr. Ben Bockstege Jr. is survived by his four sons, David, Paul, John and Fritz as well as 10 grandchildren: Brandon, Katie, Emily to David and Kim, Jennifer and Benjamin Paul IV to Paul and Beverly, Elizabeth, Sarah, John Jr to John and Linda, and Daniel and Justin to Fritz and Barbara (deceased). There are also many great grandchildren and even some great great grandchildren carrying his legacy onward.

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