Maurice E. Bock, 86, of Overland Park, KS, passed away Wednesday, November 23, 2022. Visitation will be from 10-11:00 AM followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM Wednesday, November 30, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 11300 W. 103rd Street, Overland Park, KS. Private family burial at Resurrection Cemetery, Lenexa, KS. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to St. Scholastica Monastery in Fort Smith, AR or Holy Spirit Catholic Church.
Maurice was born September 5, 1936, in Pilot Grove, MO and was one of eight children born to Emil and Catherine Bock. He went to Barber College and started Bock's Hairstyling with his brothers Gerry & Jim. Their first barbershop was at Main and Gregory and they eventually opened four locations in Overland Park. He was a barber for over sixty years and it's been said he was also part psychologist, minister, movie critic and matchmaker. He was still working at Bock's Hairstyling at Corporate Woods until the Covid pandemic hit forcing him to make the decision to retire.
For those that knew him, we will always remember his famous prose that he would recite which were, “Go with the flow like a tiny twig on the shoulders of a mighty stream” or “Be not angry at the winter wind that blows away the rose, rather go quickly to pick the rose before it blows...there is a message there...do today what you can do today and do not wait for tomorrow”. But the most infamous saying as he leaves a room is “I’ll be Bock”. He had ears that listened (a great asset as a barber) and never missed any conversations, especially when someone would whisper, then his ears became super sonic.
Maurice was preceded in death by his parents and siblings Gerald Bock and Margie Kramer. Maurice is survived by his children Janet and her husband Gary Pennington, Chris Bock, stepdaughter Terre Gruetze, grandchildren Jenna and Garrett Pennington, Cole and Jesse Bock, Drake, Dalton and Marissa Gruetze, brother Jim (Dorothy) Bock, sisters Dorothy Valentine, Sr. Barbara Bock, OSB, Bernice (Marcus) Evers, Judy (Glen) Bock-Brinley and many extended family and friends.
Maurice was devoted to his faith in Jesus, had a heart of gold and truly enjoyed helping others. He enjoyed singing for several years in the choir at Queen of the Holy Rosary-Wea in Bucyrus, KS. He loved dancing, fishing, shooting countless games of pool at his home with family, watching Turner Classic Movies in his recliner and was an avid Kansas City sports fan (mostly a KC Royals fan). Taking off work was a foreign concept to him but tried to never miss his son’s baseball games. He was quite a storyteller to many. As a passionate and proud grandpa to his grandchildren, he loved watching baseball games with a hamburger or hotdog and french fries in hand and taking in choir programs throughout the years. A special thank you to all of his loyal friends and customers at Bock’s Hairstyling and the care he recieved at Brookdale Overland Park and Hospice.