Joan Darlene (Markley) Bock

Joan Darlene Bock celebrated her 88th birthday as she entered the gates of Heaven on February 7, 2023. Born Joan Darlene Markley on February 8, 1935, she grew up in Elkhart, Indiana where she graduated from Elkhart High School in 1953, while working at The Style Shop in sales and customer service. She met the love of her life, James (Jim) Bock at a YMCA dance, and on August 27, 1954, they married and began their life of 68 years together. After marriage, Joan worked as an Administrative Assistant at Miles Laboratory before focusing on her forever career as wife and mother.

Surviving Joan are her beloved husband, James (Jim) Bock, residing in Scottsdale, Arizona and their two daughters, Christi (James) Harman, Denver, Colorado; Jamie (Jeffrey) Helman, Niles, Michigan. Also surviving Joan are grandchildren Katie Harman, Denver, Colorado; JJ (Stephanie) Harman, Aachen, Germany; Kaley (Robert) Taylor, Charlotte, North Carolina; Courtney (Stockton) Schultz, Scottsdale, Arizona; and Madeline (Nathan) Laidig, Scottsdale, Arizona. Joan was lovingly known as “Grandma GiGi” by her 13 great grandchildren: Adilee and Isabella Harman; Avalon, Harper, Quinna, and Tatum Taylor; Navy, Knox, Brighton, and Merritt Schultz; and Lincoln, Palmer, and Kellen Laidig.

Also surviving are Joan’s sister Nancy (Bill) Stanner and brother Harold Timothy (Nancy) Markley, all residing in Elkhart.

Joan’s parents Mary Ellen (Miller) Markley, Harold Manford Markley and granddaughter Mara Eileen Helman preceded her in death.

Joan had an active social life involved in Tri Kappa, Questers, Trinity Elkhart Women’s Ministry, Red Hat Society, Elcona Country Club, Four Arts Club and the Art League of Elkhart. Together Joan and Jim traveled extensively with business and friends to Europe (Russia, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Croatia) Australia, Fiji and Gibraltar. Their generosity of time and resources blessed many individuals and organizations including, but not limited to, Bashor Children’s Home, the Snite Museum of Art at the University of Notre Dame, Trine University in Angola, Indiana and the Midwest Museum of Art in Elkhart. Joan also served on the Board of Trustees of United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.

As an accomplished painter and artist, Joan traveled frequently to seminars and workshops to hone and to share her skill. Many of her paintings adorn homes of friends and families in the Elkhart region. Additionally, her work was submitted and accepted to the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC.

After retirement and raising their children, Joan and Jim resided seasonally in Fort Myers Beach and Bonita Beach, Florida where they made great friends who shared their love of boating. Their travels together on “Fishin’ Mission” took them many miles around the Florida Keys, the Gulf Coast, and the Bahamas. In 2022 Joan and Jim moved to Scottsdale, Arizona to enjoy the sunshine and family.

A Celebration of Life for Joan will be held on Saturday, April 15, 2023, at 2:00 P.M.at Maravilla Scottsdale 7325 East Princess Blvd. Scottsdale, AZ 85255.  Hartzler-Gutermuth-Inman Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements.

Memorials may be made to Bashor Children’s Home, 62226 C. R. 15 Goshen, IN 46526; Trinity on Jackson Church, 2715 E. Jackson Blvd. Elkhart, IN 46516; or Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St. Phoenix, AZ 85014.

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