Obituary: Hock, Jennie Rea
She was born April 21, 1917 in Summerfield, Kansas to Edward M. and Hattie Maude (Hungate) Wagner.
She was the youngest of four children, all of whom predeceased her.
Jean graduated from Summerfield High in 1935 and married Galen F. Hock December 21, 1940.
They celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary in 2006, the year prior to Galen’s death in 2007.
During those years, they made their way to San Francisco and then finally to Sacramento, CA.
It was while they were in San Francisco that Jean acquired her license in Cosmetology.
Upon arriving in Sacramento, they opened the Hock Insurance Agency with Jean doing the Accounting and efficiently keeping the office running smoothly for approximately 60 years.
Without forgetting their friends or their roots in Summerfield, Jean and Galen loved their time in Sacramento for many reasons.
Most of all ‘their’ neighborhood with the very best of friendships and caring.
Jean also had a deep passion for golf because of the many life-long friends she made during her 50+ years of membership in women’s clubs of the Haggin Oaks Golf Complex.
She was extremely popular and well-known for her volunteering, sponsorships and not least, her excellent sense of humor.
Hallmarks of Jean occurred when she would dress up on Holidays (especially Halloween) with unique outfits and hats.
But the one thing that touched Jean the most was supporting youth golf programs.
Her legacy in Sacramento will be each year during the Thanksgiving Tournament when 70-80 kids can affordably play championship golf at the William Land Golf Course because of the restricted fund contribution in the name of Galen and Jean Hock.
Her other great passion was for animals.
Her indoor cats were treated as children as well as neighbor’s pets and her library was full of the wonderful world of animal books.
There was a huge change in her life when she moved to Spokane Valley, WA in 2008 to be with family.
There was a cold winter to put up with (even with Snow!
), no golf, as well as learning to accommodate a large family.
So many friends in Sacramento helped her so much by keeping in touch with their letters, calls and even traveling to Spokane to visit.
She consciously made the best of things and soon began to wonder.
The hugs from the little ones warmed her heart and the audience of the older ones laughing with her at her inimitable way of telling her golf stories endeared them to her.
Her stories along with her caring ways also endeared her to so many new friends in her new life in WA.
To hear her wonderful, great laugh was a total joy to everyone.
Jean is survived by her niece and nephew, Barbara and Frank Becker of Spokane Valley, WA; great- nieces and nephews; Debra and James Hartl, Risa K. Arquette, Mark and Theresa Becker, David and Keri Becker, Paul and Cindy Nott, Tania and Kenneth Finlayson, Misti and Nathan Waddell, Michael and Mai Nott; numerous great-great-nieces, great-great nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Galen Hock; her parents Edward and Maude Wagner; her brothers, Dallas and Eugene Wagner; her sister, Vivian L. Shay and her nephew, C. Michael Nott.
At her request, there will be no services.
Suggested charities may be made in her memory to the First Tee of Greater Sacramento to the Galen and Jean Hock restricted fund; or to the Guide Dogs for the Blind; or to Hospice of Spokane.