Herman Bockerman

Herman H. Bockelman was born December 21, 1909, in Freedom Township. He is the son of Carl H. and Sophia (Helberg) Bockelman.

He attended the local one room school which was known as the Garrett School. Miss Mary Tate started her teaching career at this school.

There will be many people in the Napoleon area that will remember her as their teacher at one time or another. Not only was she an excellent teacher but she participated in the playground sports. But, when the bell rang that was the end of sports and the priority was definitely given over to studies. From the Garrett School Herman attended Ridgeville High School in Ridgeville, Ohio.

He lived at home and helped with the farming until he was twenty years old. Through the tutoring of his uncle Henry Benien he learned the meat cutting trade. He worked at this trade starting in Defiance, Ohio, from 1930 to 1938.

On October 16, 1937, he married Eleanore Bolz from Shaker Heights, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. Since 1939 they have made their home in Napoleon, Ohio. He continued to work at his trade as meat cutter at various markets. On February 1, 1974, he retired after working for Chief Super Markets for twenty years.

They have two children Wayne Loren and Wynetta Ann.

Herman Bockelman in 1927 with his first car, a 1923 Model T Ford Roadster which cost him $60. His younger brother Wilfred is in the car.

Wayne Loren Bockelman was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on December 30, 1938. He was six months old when they moved back to Napoleon, Ohio. He attended grade school and also high school in Napoleon schools. He graduated in June of 1956. In September of that year he went to Ohio University at Athens, Ohio, graduating from there in June of 1960. In September of that year he attended Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois. In 1962 he received his M.A. Degree and received his Ph.D. in 1969.

He then went to Hunter University in New York City to teach. He taught here from 1965 to 1968.

From 1968 until April of 1974 he taught at Rutgers University at Camden, New Jersey.

In April of 1974 he took a position in the State Legislature Service Agency of the State of New Jersey. This is a part of the State Legislative for the state of New Jersey at the State House in the state capitol in Trenton, New Jersey.

Wynetta Ann Bockelman was born on August 25, 1942, at Heller Memorial Hospital at Napoleon, Ohio. She also attended grade school and high school at Napoleon graduating from high school in June 1960. She also attended Ohio University at Athens, Ohio, graduating from there in June of 1964.

On July 11, 1964, she was married in San Diego, California, at the Naval Base Chapel. She married John David Colwell of Defiance, Ohio. He was a graduate of Kenyon College and of the Naval Officers Candidate School of Newport, Rhode Island.

They resided in Chula Vista, California. Ensign Colwell was aboard the sea going fleet tug U.S.S. Muncie. Mrs. Colwell accepted a teaching position at the Kellogg School in Chula Vista.

Later Lt. J.D . Colwell was transferred to duty at Newport, Rhode Island. While there their first child Elizabeth Ann was born on September 19, 1967.

They now reside in Bay Village, Ohio, and have two more children, Anna was born July 14, 1970, and John David II was born April 4, 1972.

Submitted by the Family