Leo Lawrence Bockhop of Belmont, WI, age 81, passed away on August 12, 2021 peacefully of Parkinson-related pneumonia at Southwest Health in Platteville, WI. Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 25, 2021 at the Belmont Convention Center in Belmont, WI, which will be streamed live on the Melby Funeral Home facebook page. Pastor Stephen Troester will be officiating the service. Burial will be at the Belmont Cemetery following a horse-drawn buckboard procession escorted by members of the Belmont and Darlington Saddle Clubs. A visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 24, 2021 from 3:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Melby Funeral Home & Crematory in Platteville, WI, or from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service on Wednesday at the Belmont Convention Center. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Leo L. Bockhop Memorial Fund. The Melby Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the family. Online condolences may be made at www.melbyfh.com.

Leo was born on July 12, 1940 in Platteville, son of Lawrence “Sammy” and Marie (Schult) Bockhop. After graduating from Belmont High School in May, he was united in marriage to his soul mate, Ruth Ann Crase on September 11, 1959 at Peace Lutheran Church in Belmont. Leo and Ruth raised five children – Alice, Roger, Julie, Mary, and Lisa. Leo worked for Knebel's Processing, Lafayette County Highway Dept, and the Village of Belmont before he and Ruth decided to start farming full time. He was a member of the former Belmont Cemetery Association and the Peace Lutheran Church council. After retiring from farming in 1995, Leo worked for Belmont School District as a bus driver and custodian, Farm & Fleet, Peoples Oil Co-op, and Nodolf Lumber before permanently retiring. Through the years, Leo enjoyed playing baseball, fast pitch softball, coaching the First Capitol 4-H softball teams, attending his children's, grandchildren's, and great-grandchildren's sporting events, refereeing high school basketball, bowling, camping, trail riding, playing cards, playing bean bag, tossing horse shoes, dancing, taking bus trips to Branson, and telling jokes (some naughty and most nice). Through the years, he was a Belmont Brave, Oak Creek Knight, Stoughton Viking, Mineral Point Pointer, Iowa-Grant Panther, Badger, Packer, and Brewer fan. Later in life, he and Ruth enjoyed dining and socializing at the SUN meal site in Belmont before they moved to assisted living in Platteville. Leo was a life-long member of Peace Lutheran Church in Belmont, but also enjoyed attending services at Cowboy Country Church in Mineral Point. Leo was a generous loving man who was devoted to spending time with his family and many friends. He had a big heart of gold and was always willing to help anyone anywhere if he was able with no questions asked.

Leo is survived by his wife Ruth: his children Alice (Joe) Gilman, Roger (Kathy) Bockhop, Julie (Butch) Speth, Mary (Dale) Bahr, and Lisa (Neal) Thomas; Grandchildren Katie (Travis) Grooters, Dan (Caitlin) Joestgen, Phylesia (Brandon) Kirkpatrick, Jessica (Brian) Schwoerer, Josh Bockhop, Olivia Krahn-Bockhop, Hannah (Matt Kuehn) & Jake Haase, Jenny (Marcus) Geishert, Tom (Amanda) Speth, Reba (Jamie) Tranel, Jon Bahr (Brea Brugger), Erik & Andrea Kieler (Jamie Madl), Troy (Suzy), Seth, Chad & Ryan Thomas; Great-Grandchildren Tyler & Ella Grooters, Henry Joestgen, Bryce Bockhop, Kolton, Remi, & Haisley Schwoerer, Barrett Geishert, Eli & Nora Tranel, and Lloyd & Baby Thomas (Nov); many nieces and nephews; Brother David (Linda) Bockhop; Sisters-in-Law Kitty Crase, Elaine Crase, and Lynn (Sigmund) Hoel; and Brothers-in-Law Bob (Kathy) Jenkins and Gary (Laura) Jenkins.

Leo is preceded in death by his parents, brothers-in-law Paul Crase, Robert Crase, James Crase, Frank Jenkins, Jerry Avery, Allen Jenkins, Larry Jenkins, Greg Jenkins, and Ronnie Jenkins.

Special Thank You to the wonderful caring staff at the Edenbrook and Our House facilities, Dr White and the entire staff of Southwest Health in Platteville, Southwest Health EMS, Belmont Ambulance Service, and Mineral Point Rescue Squad. Thank you to Gary Behrens and the Belmont & Darlington Saddle Clubs for honoring Leo on his final ride.

Leo Bockhop

July 12, 1940 - August 12, 2021

Share photos of Leo