Jacqueline Ockert Dies; Service to be on April 2

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Category: Obituaries

Created on Wednesday, 30 March 2022 14:47

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Jacqueline Estella Groppe Ockert

Jacqueline Estella Groppe Ockert was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, on July 26, 1934, to Louis Wesley Groppe and Jean Estella (Maguire) Groppe. The Lord called her to heaven on March 26, 2022, with her daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter by her side, in Sitka.

She had been a resident of Sitka since October 4, 1992. Prior to that she lived in Wrangell for 11 years.

She was the third of six children, four girls and two boys. She attended school in a one-room schoolhouse, in West Virginia, walking across a swinging bridge to get to and from school each day. She had only one report card that her dad wouldn’t sign because she earned a 99. He told her if she could make 99, she could make 100. She never had less than 100 on any more of her report cards.

Over the course of her life she managed fast food restaurants, in between directing childcare centers. Her favorite, by far, was operating childcare centers. There are hundreds of children, now adults, from Florida and Alaska who have felt her tender touch as she wiped their noses, helped them learn to tie their shoes or read stories to them.  

She was a quiet, unassuming, and caring person. There are many who were the recipients of her words of encouragement through her hand-written notes and cards. She remembered everyone’s birthday (friends, relatives – if you told her she remembered it). Some of her last words were “Did I send the birthday cards for the end of March?” The answer was yes, she had mailed them just the day before going into the hospital.

 Christmas was her favorite holiday. In fact, she already had her shopping completed for Christmas 2022 before Spring break began. 

She loved baking and making candies to deliver to numerous places in town. Christmas would see her, along with other family members, delivering trays to as many as 33 different locations in mid-December. In years past she delivered goodies trays to the Fire Hall for their monthly meetings to show how much she appreciated their dedication to the folks of Sitka.

From the age of 12, when she attended a wrestling event with a friend whose dad worked security, she became an avid WWE fan. For 75 years she watched wrestling, with three generations of her family. Her grandchildren could not believe the person watching a live match was their grandmother. She was not the quiet Grandma they saw at home.

She attended the Nazarene church both in Sitka and in Florida, having served on the church board in Florida. Her faith in God was what sustained her in her darkest moments and brought her the greatest joy in times of plenty.  

She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary for more than 40 years. She served as chaplain at the local and district level for many years, and traveled to district conventions all over the state. 

She was preceded in death by the love of her life Rev. Frank Edward Ockert, DD. They were married on September 11, 1980, in Wrangell. Dennis Ockert, her other bonus son, also preceded her in death. Her brothers George and Louie, and sisters Phyllis Davis and Morley Norman also preceded her in death.

She is survived by her daughter, Ellen Lynne (EJ) Treadway (Wayne);  granddaughter Autumn Lynne Treadway; great-granddaughter Ally Yvette Martin, all of Sitka; grandsons Porter Wayne Treadway of Wasilla, Jonathon Edward Treadway of Anchorage, and Steven Charles Treadway of Seward; great-grandson Owen Wayne Casey of Anchorage; and sister Jeannie Knouse, of Florida.

Also surviving are her bonus son and daughter-in-law Ronald George Ockert (Annie) of Florida; and grandson Tod (Anna) Ockert in Alabama, Jay (Dawn) Ockert from South Carolina, Eric Ockert from New York, Mark (Jen) Silverberg of Massachusetts.

At the time of her death, she had eight grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. She was loved and will be missed by her many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Jackie’s life will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, April 2, at Sitka Church of the Nazarene.

“Please bring a story or memory to share with the family at a reception following the celebration of life,” the family said.

Honorary pallbearers are Rod Nutting, Bob Love, Ron Ockert, Brandon Haskins, Gary McCarty, and Dave Miller.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in the form of a checks – made out to the Sitka Fire Department in memory of Jackie Ockert – may be dropped off at the fire hall or mailed to 209 Lake Street, Sitka, AK 99835.

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