Submitted by: Dan Rich

South Bend Tribune 2/20/2004

Kevin Edward DeCocker

Sept. 20, 1962 -- Feb. 17, 2004

Kevin Edward DeCocker, 41, residing on Manchester Drive, South Bend, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday afternoon, February 17, 2004 in his home of natural causes.

He was born September 20, 1962 in South Bend and has remained a lifelong resident of the South Bend-Mishawaka area. On September 23, 1989 in River Park United Methodist Church, South Bend, he married Sally Kerns. He is survived by his loving wife Sally, a daughter Krystal Kerns at home; and his parents, Donald A. & Cecilia Janet (Arata) DeCocker of Mishawaka. Also surviving are three sisters, Teresa (Bernardo) Contreras of Mishawaka; Veronica (James) Huchison of Mason, OH; and Stephanie DeCocker of Mishawaka; and five brothers, Dennis (Denise) DeCocker of Nashville, TN; Michael (Pamela) DeCocker of Mishawaka; Andrew (Laura) DeCocker of Carmel, IN; Aaron (Jamie) DeCocker of South Bend; and Timothy (Connie) DeCocker of Osceola; and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Harold & Joyce Kerns of South Bend.

Kevin was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Eugenia & Joseph Arata, and his paternal grandparents, Irene & Adolph DeCocker.

He has served as a Foreman at RACO-Hubbell Electric Products where he has worked for the past eighteen years. Kevin was very devoted to his wife Sally. He was a loving father, son, and brother. He graduated from Mishawaka High School and attended Indiana University of South Bend.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, February 21, in St. Joseph Catholic Church, Mishawaka. Rev. Robert A. Yast, pastor will officiate. Graveside services and burial will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Osceola. The family will receive friends from 2:00 -- 8:00 p.m. Friday in the Palmer Funeral Home-River Park, 2528 Mishawaka Ave., South Bend, where a memorial service will be held at 8:00 p.m. Friday in the funeral home led by Rev. Kathy Miller-Crook of River Park United Methodist Church. Visitation will also occur from 9:00 --10:15 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home.