Arthur J. Cockroft

Arthur Joe Cockroft was born July 15, 1913, on a farm west of Burr Oak, Kansas, to William Arthur and Mamie Goldie (Olena) Cockroft. He died in Beloit, Kansas at the Long-term Care Center on June 20, 2009, not too many days short of his 96th birthday.

Arthur was married to Mary Lorine Broyles on August 9, 1939. They would have celebrated their 70th anniversary this year. They had four children: Cheryl and husband, Mitch Woerner of Mankato, Kansas; Daryl and wife, Becky Cockroft of Jewell, Kansas; Dwayne and wife, Linoma Cockroft of Shawnee, Kansas; and Janice and husband, Terry McCutcheon of Burr Oak, Kansas. There are 13 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren. Arthur was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters- Blanche Penner, and Rosa Lee Tegley; and a granddaughter.

Arthur only had an 8th grade education, but was very smart in math and could figure in his head faster than most people could on paper. He loved the farm and his livestock. Arthur milked cows by hand, slopped the hogs, and tended to 1000’s of chickens. He was one of the first people to ever raise milo in the Formoso area. Arthur and Lorine lived southwest of Northbranch, moved to Formoso, and back to Burr Oak, ½ mile west of where Arthur was born and farmed there until retiring to Mankato in 1976. Even then Arthur and Lorine couldn’t retire. They helped their kids do their farm work for several years. Arthur enjoyed working with his hands. He built several small barns, playhouses, dog houses, wishing wells, and yard ornaments. He always had Lorine helping him pull nails out of old lumber and she never told him how she hated doing that.

Arthur was a wonderful Dad, Granddad, and Great-Granddad. He never got upset with his kids, only his cows! He could make his point, just by looking at you.

He loved having Lorine sit on his lap and holding hands with her. Arthur had a hearing problem, but would tell anyone who would listen that Lorine was his wife, and wasn’t she a “PEACH!”

Arthur joined the Nazarene Church in Burr Oak shortly after moving here. He was a board member for a lot of years. Climbing the steps into the sanctuary became hard and finally in the last year of his life, he stayed at home on Sundays. We know that he is in Heaven now waiting patiently for the rest of his family to get there!

A celebration of life service for Arthur J. Cockroft was held Tuesday, June 23, 2009, at 4:00 p.m., at the Church of the Nazarene, Burr Oak, Kansas, with Pastor Tom Korb officiating. Music was provided by Mrs. Lola Wilson, organist, and Wayne Fogo, sang “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow.” Other music selections were played from CD’s, “Daddy’s Hands” and “Tell Me about the Good Old Days.” Casket bearers were: Arnold Woerner, Darwin Cockroft, Brian Cockroft, Bret Simmelink, Brad Cockroft, Cameron Cockroft, Marcus Cockroft, Shane McCuthcon, and Justin McCutcheon. Interment was in the Burr Oak Cemetery, Burr Oak, Kansas. The family suggests memorials to the church. Melby Mortuary, Mankato, Kansas, was in charge of arrangements.