Marie Goldie HARRIS

17 JAN 1902 - 2 JAN 2002

• BIRTH: 17 JAN 1902, Plymouth, Marshall County, Indiana
• DEATH: 2 JAN 2002, Plymouth, Marshall County, Indiana

1.  Leo R. BOCKO

INDEX

[N32709] Marie Goldie Harris Bocko Janke

Birth 17 Jan 1902
Plymouth, Marshall County, Indiana

Death 2 Jan 2002 (aged 99)
Plymouth, Marshall County, IN

Burial
Oak Hill Cemetery
Plymouth, Marshall County, Indiana
Memorial ID 185836755

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Marie was the daughter of Dennis Harris and second-wife Stella Ellen Himes, who married on 4 Jun 1900 in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan. Marie’s father had previously married Nellie A. Baird on 19 Nov 1897 in Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan and they had parted ways within a year or two. Dennis and Stella had at least six children together-Marie Goldie (17 Jan 1902 - 2 Jan 2002), Harry Jaeger (23 Jul 1905 - 15 Oct 2000), Leona May (14 Jul 1908 - 31 Jul 1908), Leon Conrad (24 Aug 1909 - 14 Sep 1985), Gowanda Robinson (23 Nov 1919 - 6 Jan 2002), and an unidentified child that was born and died before 1908. The 1900 Census placed the newlyweds with Dennis’ parents at 100 S. Lafayette St. in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan. William Harris, aged 62, was noted as a shoemaker. Ann, aged 61, reported that she had had five children, but that only three had survived to that census. Only son Dennis, aged 24 and also noted as a shoemaker, was there living with his parents. With him was wife Stella, aged 20, who reported that she had not yet had any children. The 1910 Census placed Dennis and Stella in Oronoko Township, Berrien Co., Michigan. Dennis Harris, aged 33, was the proprietor of a shoe repair shop. Stella, aged 32, reported that she had had five children, but that only three had survived to that census. There with their parents in 1910 were Marie, aged 7, Harry, aged 4, and Leon, aged 5 months. One of the lost children was daughter Leona May, who died when she was only seventeen days old on 31 Jul 1908. The year before the next census, 17-year-old Marie married first-husband Tony Margiotta (best guess on spelling) on 29 Sep 1919 in St. Joseph Co., Indiana. Tony had immigrated from Italy five years earlier in 1914. Marie and Tony had two sons together-Donald George (2 Aug 1920 - 13 Aug 1972) and Leo Robert (b. 17 May 1923). I expected to find the newlywed couple on the 1920 Census, living in Mishawaka, St. Joseph Co., Indiana, but didn’t. Before ten more years passed, Marie had remarried, wedding Leo K. Bocko. They appeared together, with Marie’s two children, on the 1930 Census, living at 222 Fifth St. in Plymouth, Marshall Co., Indiana. Leo Bocko, aged 34, was noted as a general laborer. Marie, aged 28, was home with sons Donald, age 9, and Leo, aged 6, noted as sons to Leo.Marie and Leo had a very close call three years after that census. (From: The Bremen Enquirer, Bremen, IN - Thu 21 Sep 1933 pg. 3) “PLYMOUTH (From The News and The Pilot.) Mrs. Leo Bocko of S. Fifth street, was severely burned last night when she attempted to put fuel in the stove. She had taken hold of the hot stove handle with a portion of her dress and when she opened the stove the material caught fire and in an instant enveloped her in flames. Mr. Bocko, who was in the room at the time, picked up a sweater and threw it around her in an attempt to smother the flames till he could get a large blanket to entirely outen the fire. Mrs. Bocko received painful burns about the right arm and side, with deep burns on her right limb. Mr. Bocko was also painfully burned about the hands. Dr. Irey was immediately summoned and dressed the burns. Her condition was considered satisfactory today.” Yikes! The 1940 Census placed the family on W. Jackson in Plymouth, Marshall County. Leo Bocko, aged 43, was working as a laborer for the W.P.A. (Works Progress Administration), a WWII recovery program. Marie, aged 38, was keeping house. There with the couple were Donald Margiotta, aged 19, and Leo Margiotta, aged 16, both noted as step-sons this time, however they both appear to have eventually established Bocko as their surname, so it seems plausible that Leo adopted the two boys.
On his 27 Apr 1942 WWII registration, Leo Bocko, aged 48, reported that he was living on N. Fourth St. in Plymouth, Indiana, and that he was working for Plymouth’s Police Department. Wife Marie was noted as that person who would always know his address. He measured in at 5’ 7” tall and weighed in at 185 lbs., with gray eyes and brown hair. Also noted was a scar on his left forefinger. Three years after that census, Marie lost husband Leo Bocko on 20 May 1945, aged 50.Marie eventually remarried. Her third husband was Valours J. Janke, ten years her junior. He was a widower, having lost first-wife Elba in 1966.
Sadly, Marie lost son Donald on 13 Aug 1972. Fifteen years later, she lost husband Valours on 19 Nov 1987. She had him laid to rest next to first-wife Elba.

Marie died on 2 Jan 2002 at age 99. Had she lived for another fifteen days, she would have celebrated her 100th birthday. She was laid to rest here in Oak Hill next to her parents Dennis and Stella Harris, and first-husband Leo Bocko.