Elizabeth Joan Kocmick, 85, of Dante

Funeral Mass will be 10:30 AM, Saturday, November 19, 2016 at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Catholic Church in Dante. Burial is in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, rural Dante. Visitation will be Friday from 2 to 4 PM at the Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Home in Wagner. Rosary services are at 6:30 PM followed by a Scripture Wake service at 7 PM Friday at the Assumption Church in Dante.

Elizabeth Joan (Ruhl) Kocmick was born August 12, 1931 to Edward and Anna (Mazourek) Ruhl in rural Dante, SD. She died on November 15, 2016 at the Good Samaritan Society in Tyndall. She had attained the age of 85 years and 3 months. Rosary Service is scheduled at 6:30 pm Friday, November 18 at Assumption BVM Catholic Church in Dante, SD, followed by Prayer Service at 7:00 pm. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, November 19, 2016 at 10:30 am at Assumption BVM Catholic Church in Dante, SD.

Joan attended rural school near Dante, SD through 8th grade. In 1944 her parents moved to Little Falls, MN where she attended and graduated from St. Francis High School in 1948. She then worked for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company in Little Falls and Minneapolis until her marriage to Robert L. Kocmick in June of 1952 at Elmendorf A.F.B. in Anchorage, Alaska. When Robert was discharged in 1955 they returned to farm in the Dante area.

Joan was a housewife and the mother of seven children. Joan's life centered around raising and caring for her children and grandchildren, always putting the needs of others first. Joan was a wonderful role model and advisor of all things she learned and experienced, and was a great listener. She was a sweet and loving person with a wise old soul. She had a fierce sense of duty toward home and family and worked hard on the farm gardening, canning, raising and dressing chickens, along with many other chores. She was an excellent canner, cook, and baker. She worked at Avon Enterprises from 1975 through 1996. She was a member of Assumption BVM Catholic Church and St. Mary's Altar Society in Dante, SD.

Joan enjoyed reading and puzzles. She welcomed company from her grandchildren, families, and friends. She loved to eat good food. She also enjoyed socializing and fun at the casino, forging friendships with people she would meet.

Joan is survived by three sons, Robert J. and Debra, Sioux Falls, SD, James and wife Jane of Brandon, SD, David and wife Mette of Copenhagen, Denmark. Three daughters Kimberly Burden and husband Danny, Sioux Falls, SD, Debra Kocmick, Sioux City, IA, Julie Mudder and husband Jay, Avon, SD. 13 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Brother William Ruhl, Bettendorf, IA, sister Ruth LaMusga, Chico, CA, Sisters-in-law Emma Kocmick, Sylvia Meiers and husband Lorney, Brother-in-law Earl Schumacher. Preceded in death are husband Robert L. Kocmick, son Bruce Kocmick, infant granddaughter Stephanie Kocmick, parents Edward and Anna Ruhl, Sisters Clarice Berry and Rebecca Snyder, Brothers John, Eldon, and Donald (Bud) Ruhl. Sisters-in-law Lavina and Sharon Ruhl, and Janice Schumacher. Brothers-in-law James Kocmick, Jack Snyder, and Clarence Jenisen.

In lieu of flowers or plants, the family is requesting memorials be designated to Alzheimer and Dementia Research or Mass memorials.