Maurice “Mort” John Ockenfels Sr. died Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017, at age 92, surrounded by his family. He and his wife, Marcy, founded City Carton Recycling Co., which was headquartered in Iowa City, Iowa, in 1967. They operated the company for 25 years before selling the business to their children.
Ockenfels was born June 21, 1925, in Walford, Iowa, the son of John and Lillian Delaney Ockenfels. He was a graduate of Hartwick High School in Hartwick, Iowa. From 1947 to 1952 he served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. Ockenfels married Marcy Barker Nov. 29, 1949, at Hamilton Air Force Based in California.
In 1967, the Ockenfels founded City Carton Recycling Co., which they operated for 25 years. Following their retirement in 1990, the couple sold the business to their children. City Carton was the largest recycling company in Iowa before being acquired by Republic Services of Phoenix in January of 2015.
In 1958 Ockenfels and his brother operated Carl’s Cartage Co., a local trucking company. In 1963, Ockenfels established Ockenfels Transfer.
He was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus and the Bishop Cosgrove Assembly, Old Capitol Kiwanis, the American Legion and the Moose.
The Ockenfels wintered in Arizona for more than 30 years. He liked to play euchre, fish and pilot his company plane and was an active pilot until he turned 79.
Ockenfels is survived by Marcy and their eight children, Donna (Fred) Renon of San Diego; John (Deb) of Swisher, Iowa; Mark of Davenport, Iowa; Andy (Kathy) of Riverside, Iowa; Tim (Lisa) of Mount Pleasant, Iowa; Cindy Ward of Davenport; Chris (Verlaine) of Riverside; and Margie (Dennis) Maurer of Waterloo, Iowa. He also is survived by 12 grandchildren, Charles, Brandi, Dan, Kris, JR, Travis, Austin, Jake, Abbey, Becca, Christine and Jennifer, 12 great-grandchildren, Jacey, Justin, James, Gavin, Alexia, Jon, Kayla, Sam, Alex, Zack, Abel and Charlotte; and his siblings, Larry (Mary) of Swisher; Rosie Beadle, Margie McFate and Marilyn (Charlie) Ong, all of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Therese Johnson (Clair Rausch) of Iowa City; and Virginia Storjohann of Centennial, Colorado.
Ockenfels was preceded in death by his parents; his children, Jerry, Debbie, Gene and his wife, Vivian, and Maurice Jr.; and his brother Dick and sister Carolyn Dohrer.
Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Monday, Oct. 23, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, and visitation was held Oct. 22 from 2 to 5 p.m. at Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service, Iowa City. Burial with Military Honors was at St. Joseph Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Mort and Marcy Ockenfels Scholarship Fund for the Children’s Cancer Connection.
Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.lensingfuneral.com.