A memorial service for John Sockel, 81, of Kempner is Sept. 18, 2009, at 9:30 a.m. at Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home of Copperas Cove. Burial will follow at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen with full military honors.

Mr. Sockel died Sept. 1 at his residence.

He was born Jan. 8, 1928, in Springfield, Ill., the son of Anton and Antonina Razemskus Sockel.

Mr. Sockel served in the U.S. Army until his retirement on July 31, 1973. He earned the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Korea) and the Good Conduct Medal Clasp, Silver with One Loop.

He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Knights of Columbus and Moose Lodge, and he enjoyed sports and traveling. He was a Catholic.

Survivors include his wife, Sybill Sockel of Kempner; a son, Peter Sockel of Alabama; a brother, Frank Sockel of Illinois; a granddaughter, Teresa Sockel of Alabama; a stepson, Tom Christianson and family of Arizona; and a great-grandson, Matthew Sockel of Alabama.

Arrangements by Crawford- Bowers Funeral Home of Copperas Cove.