ROSEMARY HOCKEMEIER

Rosemary Hockemeier, 83, of Richmond, MO, died on Thursday, November 19, 2009 at the St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City, MO.
Rosemary was born on August 9, 1926 in Norborne, MO to William August and Mary Susan (Hofmann) Wegeng, who operated a dairy farm. She married A. E. "Abbie" Hockemeier of Norborne, MO on May 1, 1947, in Carrollton, MO. He survives of the home.
Additional survivors include; four sons and three daughters-in-law, Curt and Nancy Hockemeier of Denver, CO, Farrell and Peggy Hockemeier of Richmond, MO, Max and Debra Hockemeier of Richmond, MO and Bradley Hockemeier of N. Kansas City, MO, four sisters, Marjorie Gronniger of Eudora, KS, Elizabeth Backes of Carrollton, MO, Judith Goetting of Norborne, MO, Carol Ruegg of N. Kansas City, MO, seven grandchildren, Taylor Hockemeier, Greer Hockemeier, Sloane Hockemeier, Heidi Nofsinger, Jessica Hockemeier, Benjamin Hockemeier, Gus Hockemeier and three great grandchildren, Gabriel, Madalin and Ellie Nofsinger.
In addition to her parents, Rosemary was preceded in death by one brother, Eldon Wegeng.
Rosemary studied English at St. Mary's College in Leavenworth, KS, where she was known as "Pepper". After she married "Abbie", they moved to Henrietta, MO in 1950, where they farmed and reared four sons. In addition to driving grain trucks to the elevator, Rosemary wrote for the Ray County Herald as "The Mother of Four." After a third flood in 1967, they moved to Richmond but continued to farm near Henrietta.
Rosemary's life was defined by her love and commitment to her family, her friends and to her community. After moving to Richmond, she launched a private beautification project for the city of Richmond. Today, the work she began can be seen in the flowers which line Spartan Drive and the hanging baskets of flowers which beautify the square in downtown, Richmond.
Rosemary was a woman of letters who frequently challenged the Kansas City Star and others in the Star's Editorial pages. After being away from home, she would arrange the newspapers in chronological order and read them cover to cover.
Rosemary was a founding member of the Ray County Community Arts Association and served on its board. She was an active member of the first Beta Sigma Phi Sorority chapter in Richmond and was a volunteer archiving historical records of the Ray County Circuit Court. She was an active member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Richmond.
The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Richmond Beautification Club.

A prayer service will be held on Friday, November 27, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at the Richmond United Methodist Church. Visitation will be held on Friday, November 27, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the church. Burial will be in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Higginsville, MO on Monday, November 30, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. Thurman Funeral Home in Richmond, MO is in charge of the arrangements.