Dr. Fred Clinton Bock II

Dr. Fred Clinton Bock ll, 92 of Mankato, died January 23, 2025.

A Celebration of Fred’s life will be held Thursday, February 6, 2025, 10 a.m. to noon with a time of family sharing at 11 a.m. at Northview – North Mankato Mortuary, North Mankato, MN.

Fred Clinton Bock ll was born October 5, 1932 in Akron, Ohio to Fred C. and Anne Bock. He graduated from Buchtel High School in 1950 and attended the University of Akron, playing college football and active in his choice of studies, THE THEATER.

Fred met his love, Karin, in high school, continuing their romance along with their studies at the same college. They married in 1954 and Fred enlisted in the Air Force, training and successfully becoming a navigator, bombardier and radar operator on a B47 Stratojet during the cold war. During the five years of Air Force life, Fred and Karin welcomed a daughter, Lisa Lee and son, Fred C. lll.

After the Air Force, the family grew by one more son Carl, and Fred continued his education, receiving his Master’s Degree and his PhD, which took him to the Theater Department at Mankato State University, Department of Theater and Dance in the 1960’s. Fred contributed to the design of the new theater building that was being built on the upper campus. The entire family participated in planting all the trees around the new structure. During his tenure at the college, he played host to well-known people such as the great American actor John Carradine and Don Novello aka Father Guido Sarducci from Saturday Night Live. With the assistance of Lutz Travel, Fred and Karin organized many trips with theater students to New York and London. His contributions to the theater department are still noted and remembered by many of the students that sat in his classes.

 Fred wanted to make sure he would keep busy after his retirement from MSU in 1994, so the decision was made to breed and show Newfoundland dogs. In true Dr. Bock fashion, it’s all extra-large. He was well known for bringing a Newfoundland to his class in the large theater, so it made perfect sense to breed and show the gentle giants. Fred and Karin travelled all over the country with many Newfoundlands in tow, being grand spokesmen for the beautiful dogs. They collected many titles on their Newfies, and when they branched out to a few American Eskimo dogs, one gained the title of Best of Breed at the Westminster Kennel Club Show in 1999. Fred worked tirelessly to educate/train people and their dogs through his membership and leadership in the Key City Kennel Club and the Northstar Newfoundland Club. He also became a judge himself, utilizing those skills at shows in the United States, South America and Europe.

Fred loved to travel. Besides planning and chaperoning the numerous theater student trips to New York City and London, Fred and Karin traveled several times to Greece with beloved friends. He painstakingly planned their trip to Antarctica before it was in vogue to do so. The last big trips they enjoyed were to the Galapagos Islands, snorkeling with the turtles and a several week Central American cruise through the Panama Canal.

On September 11, 2001, as a delegate to the AKC Kennel club in New York City, Fred was on Long Island, New York when the terrorists attacked the Twin Towers. The world stood still, but Fred managed to take trains and hitch rides as far as Rocky River, OH where his two sons drove to bring him home safely.

Fred and Karin were members of the local Corvette club and enjoyed taking their 1972 Stingray Corvette to the national Corvette rallies in Spearfish, SD.

In the last 15 years, Fred and Karin enjoyed being part of an ownership group of thoroughbred horses which put them at Canterbury Park in Shakopee with Fred’s best friend, Jim Dailey and his family. They spent many hours a week perusing the sheets and handicapping the horses for the upcoming races.

Fred is survived by his daughter, Lisa (Ken) Thorson, sons Fred Bock lll and Carl (Beth) Bock; grandchildren, Thore (Kim) Thorson, Hanne (Aaron) Hoehn, Dylan (Amanda) Thorson, Jared Bock, Justin Bock, Billie Bock and Conan Bock; great grandchildren Isabella Thorson, Grace Thorson, Brody Thorson, Noah Sodeman, Emma Sodeman, Charlotte Hoehn, Eila Hoehn, Clayton Thorson, Ian Thorson, Bennett Thorson, Della Thorson and Scarlett Thorson; Sisters Barbara (David) Milenius and Brenda (Paul) James; many nieces, nephews, family and friends.

He is preceded in death by his wife Karin, parents, and grandson, Cooper Bock. 

Fred will live forever in our hearts.