L. Dean Hocker was born January 10, 1932 in Abilene the son of Ed and Katy (Muller) Hocker. Dean grew up in Abilene graduating from Abilene High School. Following high school, Dean served his country during the Korean War in the United States Army.

Dean worked for Steffek Construction, Chet Gay Construction and Harbin Construction for many years before owning his own construction company Hocker Construction.

He was the unofficial City Inspector of Abilene for many years, and loved his coffee friends, walking through Paul Mueller’s God’s Garden and the rose garden at Eisenhower Park. He also delivered Meals on Wheels in Abilene.

He married Evalou Leadford and they had 2 children. They later divorced and he married Shirley Smith. They had one child and Shirley passed away in May of 1982. He then had a longtime special friend Ada Wood. Ada passed away in October of 2013.

Dean is survived by his sons Chris Hocker of Abilene, Shane and his wife Darcy Hocker of Abilene, step sons Steve Atkinson of Scottsdale, Arizona, Rodney French of Topeka, Kansas, Rick Black of Abilene; stepdaughter Jan Eisenhower of Greenville, Missouri; sister Dorothy Bereznak of Abilene; and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Shirley, daughter Patty Price, brothers Harold and Leo Hocker, sister Helen Markley, and his parents.

Because COVID-19, funeral services will be private on Thursday with military honors provided by the Fr. Riley Honor Guard. Friends may sign the register book from 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Meals on Wheels or to the Eisenhower Rose Garden and may be sent in care of the Martin-Becker-Carlson Funeral Home, 414 NW 3rd Street, Abilene, Kansas 67410. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.martiinbeckercarlson.com.