Dr. Sharon Dale Ocker

   Sharon Dale Ocker, 92, of Sioux City, passed away Saturday, November 4, 2023, at a local care center surrounded by his family.

   Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, November 11, 2023, at Redeemer Lutheran Church.  Visitation with the family will be Friday, November 10, 2023, from 5:00 – 7:00 P.M. and a Prayer Service at 7:00 P.M. at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel. A private burial with military honors will be held at Memorial Park Cemetery.

  Sharon Dale Ocker was born in Cook, NE, on August 11, 1931, the son of James and Emma Ocker.  He graduated from Cook High in 1949.  He was baptized and confirmed at Grace Lutheran in Cook. 

   He earned three degrees: B.S. in Teacher Education from Peru State, NE, in 1953; an M.S. in School Administration from Peru in 1960; an Ed.D in School Administration from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in 1967. 

   He spent three years in the Army, serving as a radar specialist on the NIKE guided missile and was honorably discharged.

   He taught science/math and coached football, basketball and track at Table Rock, NE, for 4 years.  He was superintendent of schools, teacher and coach at Diller, NE, for six years. 

   He was a teacher (29 years), chairman of the education department (23), and director of graduate studies(18) at Morningside College in Sioux City, IA.  At Morningside, he was awarded the outstanding faculty award in 1971, the Order of Morningside in 1998, and the M-Club Hall of Fame honor award in 2005.

   He was chosen an Outstanding Educator of America and Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities.            He was a charter member of the Siouxland Barbershop Chorus, president, long-time newsletter editor, sang in three quartets, and was barbershopper of the year three times.

  He was a charter member, president, and long-time newsletter editor for the Greater Siouxland chapter of Phi Delta Kappa and was awarded the PDK service key award and the 25^th anniversary award for excellence in service. 

   He was a member, president(twice) and secretary-treasurer for the Morningside Kiwanis club for many years and was Lt. Governor for Kiwanis Division 5 twice.

   He was active in the Sioux City Retired Educators club and was president for two terms. 

   He was very active in the Lutheran church and was president of two church councils – St. Luke’s and St. Mark’s Lutheran Churches, and secretary of the Leadership Council at Redeemer, all in Sioux City.  He taught Sunday school for junior high/middle school youngsters for over 30 years, sang in the choirs and did solos for over 50 years.  His personal faith in Jesus Christ for salvation was his joy and peace for this life and the next.

   He gave many musical programs (with ukelele) and speeches. 

   He played softball (fastpitch and slowpitch) for over 30 years and also umpired softball and baseball in Sioux City. 

   He was avid gardener and loved athletics, especially Morningside College/University, where he was the official scorekeeper for Men’s basketball for 29 years. 

   He served as the Morningside faculty representative for athletics to the North Central conference for 22 years and was awarded the NCC award for service.  After retirement in 1996, he enjoyed writing and authored over 15 history books and/or booklets including Morningside Men’s Basketball, St Mark Lutheran Church and Everett Elementary School.  He wrote a column about athletics in the Morningsider magazine called the

M –Club Messenger.

   He married Donna (Fett) DeBoer in 1961 in Diller, NE, sixty-two years of faithfulness.

   He is survived by: wife, Donna, sister, Linda Daniels, Bellevue, NE, children, Jim (Sandy) of Sioux City, Linda Hutsen (Yogi) of Seattle, Joe (Lesa) of Frost, MN, John (Mary) of Kansas City, KS, grandchildren: Jared (Laura) of Sergeant  Bluff, Nick (Emily) Hutsen of Seattle, Christopher (Priscilla) Hutsen of St. Paul, MN, Cory Hutsen, Seattle, Amanda (Tim) Youtzy of Mason City, IA, Aaron (Victoria) of Starke, FL, Kate of Kansas City, Lauren of Kansas City,  eight great grand-children, nephews Jeff and Tim Daniels, niece, Melissa Musser.

   Memorials to Redeemer Lutheran Church Missionary Support, Sioux City Gospel Mission, or Morningside University Athletic Scholarships, in lieu of flowers.  Thank you.