Valeria Jane Bockenstedt, 86, of Petersburg, died the evening of September 29, 2025, at the Good Neighbor Home, in Manchester, after a lengthy illness.

Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. on Thursday, October 2, 2025, at Kramer-Morris Funeral Home in Dyersville, Iowa.  Visitation will continue from 9-10 a.m. at the funeral home on Friday prior to funeral service.

Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, October 3, 2025, at SS Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Petersburg with burial in the church cemetery.  Rev. Hung Le will officiate.

Valeria was born January 27, 1939, in Petersburg, Iowa. She was the daughter of William and Calista (Klaus) Goedken and was one of eleven children. Valeria graduated from Colesburg High School in 1958. She married Irvin Bockenstedt on September 12, 1959, in Petersburg. Irvin passed away on July 4, 2009. Together they farmed and raised their family on the Bockenstedt homestead near Petersburg. Valeria was a long-time member of the SS Peter and Paul Parish in Petersburg. She enjoyed gardening, quilting, and scrapbooking. Valeria especially enjoyed cooking and baking; some of her favorites to bake were apple pies and chocolate chip cookies. Valeria was a loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She was a quiet and reserved woman who took great pride in providing care for her family.

Surviving are her six children, Sharon Brown of Cedar Rapids, Jim of Earlville, Duane (Jami) of Norwalk, Steve (Lori) of Dubuque, Keith (Kristi) of Petersburg, and Gary (Julie) of Manchester; nineteen grandchildren, eighteen great grandchildren and five great, great grandchildren; sisters Inez Hermsen of Manchester and Carol (Dale) Clemen of Asbury; in laws, Patsy Goedken of Manchester, Marilyn Goedken of Petersburg, and Janet Rolfes of Osage, John Bockenstedt of Cedar Rapids, Mary Bockenstedt of Dubuque, and Virgil (Sue) Bockenstedt of Dubuque; and many nieces and nephews.

Valeria was preceded in death by her parents, William and Calista Goedken; her parents-in-law, John F. And Hilda Bockenstedt; her husband, Irvin; son-in-law, Beryle Brown; her siblings, Gilbert (Germaine) Goedken, Helen (Emil) Wilgenbusch, Stella (Leo) Demmer, Norma (Vernon) Brunsman, Mary Lou (Elmer) Engelken, Francis Hermsen, Lavern Goedken, John Goedken, Patricia Rolfes, and Marvin Rolfes; brothers and sisters-in-law, Pearl (Victor) Meier, Jeanne (Henry) Oberbroeckling, Arlene (Ambrose) Langel, Dorothy Bockenstedt, Walter Bockenstedt, Vernon (Sharon) Bockenstedt; and several nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to express our sincere gratitude to the Meadows and Good Neighbor Home of Manchester, Regional Medical Center of Manchester, Tri-State Dialysis of Manchester, and St Croix Hospice.

Kramer-Morris Funeral Home in Dyersville is assisting the family.  Information is available at https://www.kramer-morrisfuneralhome.com.