Glenda Ockinga, 82, went to her heavenly home on October 31, 2020. She has been
reunited with her loving husband, Francis Ockinga, her first son Bradley, and her first
grandchild Daniel Lewis; along with many more very important family members.
Glenda was born on a beautiful Sunday, February 27, 1938 to Manual and
Millie(Fisher)Wolfe in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. She was the third of seven children, five
girls and two boys.
While still in high school, Glenda met and fell in love with Francis Ockinga. In 1955
Francis joined the Navy. When he returned from boot camp in October of that year,
they both realized they couldn’t stand to be apart from each other again, so Francis
proposed and when Glenda said yes; they were married on Wednesday, October 26,
1955. Francis and Glenda went east to Virginia, where they resided until Francis
finished his Naval tour. They then were so happy to return to Scottsbluff where they
lived until they eventually purchased their home in Gering in 1965 to raise their
family in; which at the time, consisted of 3 children: Bradley Francis, Michael Allen,
and Brenda Lee.
In 1967 they moved to Sturgis, South Dakota where Francis went to work for the
Homestake Mining Company. While living in Sturgis, their fourth child, Kelly Korene
was born on Halloween night, thus completing their happy family.
After living in South Dakota for almost a year, they made the decision to move back
to Nebraska. Settling back in Gering, they lived happily until 1977. That was when
Francis was taken from us much too soon, at the age of 40. Glenda remained in the
Gering home, continuing to raise her children alone. She never remarried. Instead,
she just poured all of her love and devotion into her family throughout the years.
Watching it grow to where she ultimately had 8 awesome grandchildren (now 7),
and 13 amazing great-grandchildren. She was always proud of her children and
especially proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren whom she loved
getting to spend time with. She dedicated her whole life to her family that she loved
with everything she had. Everyone, friends and family alike, knew Glenda had one of
the biggest, kindest hearts ever! A heart overflowing with love.
Glenda always enjoyed exercising and was an avid walker year round. She loved
bicycling, bowling, jogging and running. She could run further and longer than
anyone in her family. She loved the outdoors and you could often find her enjoying
the weather sitting out on her porch.
She is survived by her son Michael Ockinga, daughters Brenda Ockinga and Kelly
Ockinga-Roseberry(Geoffrey); grandchildren Michele Kay(Brandon), Tara
Ockinga(Allen Tarr); Elijah Lewis(Amber); Steven Ockinga(Ashley), Brittany
Delp(Timothy), Brooke Smith and Hunter Smith. Great-grandchildren Kalum Lewis;
Leah Kay, Cooper Kay, Ashton Kay, Trace Tarr, Dakota Yager, Cylas Tarr; Briley
Ockinga, Austin Ockinga, Jaxxon Ockinga, and Maddox Ockinga; Lilly Delp and Raya
Delp; her sisters Carol Ziegler, Keitha Ziegler, and Valerie Hinman(Pat); daughter-in-
law Kim Ockinga; sisters-in-law Linda Ockinga and Mary Somers; former sisters-in-
law Kathy Heppner, Sharon Clinesmith and Carol Craig. Glenda was preceded in
death by her parents, Manual and Millie Wolfe; her in-laws Elmer and Letha Ockinga;
her husband Francis, her first son Bradley, her first grandchild Daniel Lewis, sister
Fern Imus, brothers Gordon Wolfe and Allen Wolfe; sister-in-law Marjorie Outson;
brothers-in-law Jack Ockinga, Marvin Ziegler, Virgil Ziegler and Jack Imus; nephews
Audie Ockinga and Martin Ziegler.
A Celebration of Glenda’s Life will be scheduled for a later date due to covid.
