Obituary: Carol J. Bockhop

September 9, 1934 ~ December 12, 2021

Carol Jean (Nelson) Bockhop, 87, of Sturgeon Bay, died Sunday, December 12, 2021, at Pine Crest Village in Sturgeon Bay.  She was born Sept. 9, 1934, in Sturgeon Bay to Leonard and Caroline (Becker) Nelson. 

Carol graduated from Sturgeon Bay High School in 1952 and then attended Lutheran Deaconess School of Nursing in Chicago, IL.  She graduated in 1955 as a Registered Nurse and worked as an office nurse in Sturgeon Bay for Drs. Grota and Peters.  In 1956, Carol entered St. Mary’s School of Anesthesia in Chicago and graduated as a Nurse Anesthetist in 1957.

Carol worked as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist at Door County Memorial Hospital for 31 years and was always promoting DCMH as an exceptional medical facility.  She was proud of being involved with the training of the first paramedics in Door County under the leadership of Dr. John Herlache.  It was one of the first rural paramedic programs in the United States.

On Nov. 23, 1957, Carol married Clifford Bockhop in Sturgeon Bay.  They were owners of Town and Country Building Systems, a building and general contracting firm in Sturgeon Bay.

Carol was a member of Bay View Lutheran Church, serving on many committees, and was actively involved with the Parish Nurse Ministry and Quilting for Lutheran World Relief.  She was an avid knitter and weaver.  Carol Knit many mittens for Head Start and chemo caps and prayer shawls for DCMH Oncology department.

She was preceded in death by her husband Clifford on Nov.11, 2004, her parents, Caroline and Leonard Nelson, and brother, Jerry Nelson.  She is survived by two sons, Brett Bockhop (Kim Krawczyk) of Hurley, WI’ and Kelly Bockhop (Marcia Brauer) of Sturgeon Bay; grandchildren: William, Benjamin, and Chelsea; brother, Robert (Delores) Nelson of Sturgeon Bay; sister-in-law, Pasty Nelson of Forestville; 3 great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, and cousins and close friends, Terry, Pat and Deb.

A memorial service will be at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 18, 2021, at Bay View Lutheran Church with Rev. Jeff Greathouse officiating.  Burial will be in Hainesville Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services at the church on Saturday.