Emil Bock

Emil William Bock of Cedar Falls, Iowa died in the early morning hours of April 7, 2008 at Sartori Memorial Hospital, family members by his side. His family would like to thank the physicians and staff of Sartori for the extraordinary medical care they provided in his final days; and thank the community of Windhaven for the care and friendship extended to him during the last phase of his life. Emil was born in Oak Park, Illinois on June 25, 1917 to Ukrainian ?migr?s, Michael and Emily (Bernatska) Bock. He became an accomplished violinist in his teens, playing a solo with the Grant Park Orchestra in Chicago in the fall of 1939. He received his formal musical training at Eastman School of Music and Northwestern University (B.A. and M.A.). Having taught at Northwestern and Shorter College in Rome, Georgia, he joined the faculty of Iowa State Teacher's College in the fall of 1939. In the summer of 1942, he married his favorite violin pupil, Ila Loraine Anderson of Dike, Iowa. During World War II, Emil completed basic training at Fort Sill and served in the 87th Infantry Division in Communications, deciphering code signals and running telegraph wire in combat. He carried his violin in the European theater and often played for his fellow troops. After the war, he returned to ISTC, raised a family and expanded his field of expertise, receiving a Ph.D. in Musicology from the University of Iowa, writing on "The String Fantasies of John Hingston." During the balance of his career, he developed courses in music history, ethnomusicology, and the psychology of music. He served briefly as Head of the Music Department and for many years as both Director of Graduate Studies and Concert Master of the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra, for which, later in his career, he composed program notes. He retired, the senior professor at the University of Northern Iowa, in 1984. In his active retirement, Emil continued to perform sonatas for violin and piano with his life-long friend, Russ Baum. He raised orchids, collected shells, and grew his own vegetables. But he will be remembered most as a loving husband, father, and grandfather; and as a kind and helpful friend. He is survived by his wife, Lori, of Cedar Falls; a daughter, Pam (Kirk) Fry, of Palo Alto, California; a son, Marty (Carol) Bock, of Duluth, Minnesota; and grandchildren Chris Fry, Emily Fry, Nina Bock, and Jeff Bock. He is preceded in death by a brother, Dan Bock, of Chicago, Illinois. A brief memorial service will be held on Friday, April 11 at 2:00 PM at Richardson Funeral Home. Private internment will follow. Memorials may be directed to the UNI Foundation for the Emil Bock String Scholarship. Condolences may be sent to Windhaven Assisted Living Center, 5500 South Main St. Cedar Falls, Iowa, 50613.

Emil Bock

June 25, 1917 - April 7, 2008