Ray Bockman
Ray Bockman, 91, of Palatine, IL born May 12, 1934, in Chicago, IL to Reidar and Dagny Bockman, passed away on November 3, 2025. He was the beloved husband of Rosemary, née Kapps, and loving father of Brad, Darren, and Craig [Lori]. He was the proud Papa, i.e., grandfather of Lia [Colt], Valerie, and Megan.
In 1951, Ray along with 14 other students from various nearby high schools founded a club called the Regents. Monthly meetings commenced resulting in planned activities and dances. The Regents grew to 25 members. They registered with the Illinois Secretary of State on December 28, 1955, as a social and athletic club. Through the years, the love and bonds within the Regents grew tighter, and this great affection expanded to the wives and children of the growing families. They would go to great lengths to be together over weekends and at ongoing reunions. During these 74 years monthly meetings continue to the present day – a truly unique group of friends who genuinely love each other as brothers.
He graduated from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor of Science in commerce. He was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon – he loved his fraternity brothers. His junior year he met the love of his life, Rosemary.
He was in the Army in active service in the US and Germany from 1957 to 1959 and inactive reserves from 1960 to 1964. Upon his arrival back to the US, Ray and Rosemary were married on September 12, 1959.
While serving overseas a passion was born – travel. During the course of his lifetime this devotion took him to 140 countries including Antarctica. He became a travel enthusiast – being quick to share travel stories and doubly quick to encourage others to venture to new places.
Spending all of his years living in the Chicago area crafted him into an avid Bears fan. He followed them during the regular seasons and the off seasons with much joy … and some tears.
He began his career working at Montgomery Ward but soon transitioned to working for Encyclopedia Britannica where he stayed for 33 years. His final position was as the National Director of Sales Promotion.
He thrived in his friendships – neighbors, co-workers, Sig Eps, and especially the Regents. He never had a lack of friends. He was immensely proud of his three sons, he adored his daughter-in-law, and his three granddaughters were the apple of his eye. And none compared to his bride – Ray was deeply committed to Rosemary as they loved, laughed, and embraced the ups and downs of life for 66 beautiful years.
After retirement Ray regularly attended Holy Family Catholic Church with Rosemary. He eventually made his faith commitment in April of 2007 to become a member of the Catholic Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Ray’s name to Tunnel to Towers Foundation https://t2t.org/
Visitation is Friday, November 7, 2025, from 3pm to 6pm at Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home,185 E Northwest Hwy, Palatine. Family and friends will meet on Saturday, November 8, in the chapel of Holy Family Catholic Church, 2501 W. Palatine Road, Inverness for visitation from 9:30am until 10:15am. The Funeral Mass will begin at 10:30am. Burial with graveside ceremony will follow at St Michael the Archangel Cemetery,1185 Algonquin Road, Palatine.