Paul F. Bocklage

Paul Frederick Bocklage, 80, Washington, passed away Friday,

September 14th, 2018 at New Haven Care Center.

Paul, son of the late I. V. “Ike” Bocklage and wife Mary, nee Droege, was born May 23, 1938 in Washington. He received his early education at St. Francis Borgia Grade School and graduated from St. Francis Borgia High School in 1956. In 1960, he graduated from St. Louis University with a degree in Commerce and Finance.

He had considered going on to Law School, however, was needed in the family business, Washington Motor Company, a Ford-Mercury dealership. All through his high school and college years, he worked at the dealership after school and during the summer. His first official job there was taking parts inventory. Paul was detail oriented, so it suited him well. Other tasks assigned to him were to change oil, wash cars, go on service calls and was a mechanic helper. In 1963, he became Service Manager and Shop Foreman. He was also in charge of truck sales.

Paul was in the Air Force ROTC while at St. Louis University and after graduation he continued in the National Guard. He was stationed at Fort Gordon in Atlanta, Georgia. His superior officers valued the work he did in Military Police and Paul had the distinct honor of helping guard Air Force One overnight when President Eisenhower was in Atlanta for a golf tournament.

He and his brother, Bob, became co-dealers of Washington Motor Company after their father retired. Paul helped to start the Washington School District Vocational School Mechanics Program, serving as training instructor and contributing needed equipment. They sold the dealership in 1978.

Paul took classes in Real Estate and Real Estate Appraising in order to equip himself for a new pursuit. He received five licenses from the State of Missouri which included both an Agent and Broker License in Real Estate. Paul received the Senior Residential Appraiser designation from the Society of Real Estate Appraisers. He was Candidate Guidance Chair and Admission Chair and Senior Vice-President of the St. Louis Chapter of the Appraisal Institute which had 40,000 members at that time.  In his roles as Special Representative from the St. Louis District, Paul attended regional meetings in New York and Denver, Colorado.

In addition to Paul’s “day job”, he and his brother raised 60 to 90 head of beef cattle for about 30 years. He fixed fences, baled hay, cut wood and anything else that improved the herd. In winter months, he would work all day and then come home to feed the cattle.

Paul and his brother, Bob, formed a Real Estate Appraisal company called Bocklage and Associates, LLC and they worked with other professionals from Jefferson City, Festus, and St. Louis.

He was united in marriage to Sally Murray June 9, 1973 at the First Presbyterian Church in Union. Officiating at the ceremony were Father Tom Carolan and Reverend Jim Troust. As teacher, librarian and nature lover, they shared 45 years together.  Paul and Sally traveled to Europe, Scandinavia,Ireland, Hawaii, and other beautiful places. Paul loved dogs and birds. He loved walking in the woods, exercising to stay fit and traveling. He was an expert planner.

Paul was a lifetime parishioner of St. Francis Borgia Church, a longtime Washington Historical Society Board Member, life member of the Knights of Columbus, Rotarian in Washington since 1989, where he was also the program director for 15 years, a past board member of the Washington Chamber, and a Town and Country Fair worker for 55 years.  Paul was honored  by being named Rotarian of the Year in 2007.

In the 1980's he served on a committee at St, Johns Hospital in Washington where the goal was to recruit top-notch doctors. They were successful in that challenge. 

He very much valued family and friends. He dearly loved his parents and the guidance they provided. As a youngster, his love of nature and hard work was shaped by his Aunts Lucile Mauntel and Matilda Droege and Uncle Fred Mauntel. 

Paul was a man of great faith: a devout Catholic. He loved his family dearly and treasured each and every friend.

He is survived by his wife, Sally, Washington; brother-in-law, Walter Murray of Union; two nephews, Allan Murray of St. Louis and Andrew Murray of Kansas City, MO; niece, Laura Walker and husband David of Washington and their son Benjamin; cousins, other relatives, and friends.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Bob Bocklage.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, September 18, 2018 at 10 A.M. at St. Francis Borgia Church, with interment in the Church Cemetery. A visitation will be held on Monday, September 17, 2018 from 4-8 P.M. at Miller Funeral Home.

Memorial donations are to the Washington Historical Society or the St. Francis Borgia Church.

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