Peggy Hockert

GRIMES - Peggy Hockert, 96, formerly of Grundy Center, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 6, 2025, at Kennybrook Village in Grimes.

 Peggy was born in Mallard in 1929, the daughter of Elmer and Marvel (Knighton) Hough. Her early years were spent in Mallard, where she graduated in 1947, following which she enrolled at the Iowa State Teachers College. She graduated in 1950.

Her time at the Iowa State Teachers College is where she met Howard Hockert, an educator and former Navy man, to whom she would be married on August 13, 1950. They lived briefly in Toledo before settling in Grundy Center in 1953. As was often the case in the 1950s, Peggy was a homemaker while her boys were young. Once they were school age, however, she returned to teaching and spent many years as a 1st grade teacher in Eldora. Howard and Peggy spent 64 wonderful years together, raising their family and staying active in the United Methodist church and their community.

Peggy was curious about all things and would easily strike up a conversation with anyone at any time. She was most curious, however, about her family and was always interested in hearing what was going on in their lives or in having them visit her and Howard, where she'd play games, bake goodies, and offer her love and support. She and Howard traveled often, whether it was camping at state parks around Iowa, exploring national parks in the western U.S., on a cruise of the Caribbean, or with a tour group in Europe, and very much enjoyed the company of friends or family in their travels.

Peggy relocated to Clive in 2016 to be closer to family and made her home at Walnut Ridge care center. She enjoyed making new friends and stayed active in church and bible study in her later years. An avid reader of the newspaper, Peggy loved to do the jumble each day, even well into her 90s.

Peggy is survived by her sons Eric (Jane Doyle) Hockert of North Oaks, MN and Mark (Beverly) Hockert of Urbandale; her grandchildren Amy (Chris) Winkler, Julie (Trevor) Hiley, Neil (Katie) Hockert, and Joy (Eric) Shafer; and 8 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Howard, and a brother, Milton Hough.