"A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding the hands to rest, and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man." - Proverbs 6:10

Donald Lee Bockelman, 93, of Lee's Summit, formerly Harrisonville, Missouri, passed away on Saturday, April 4, 2026, following a combination of age-related health challenges, including dementia and cancer. Graveside services were held on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at Orient Cemetery in Harrisonville, MO.

Don was born on February 26, 1933, at home in Kansas City, MO, the fifth of nine children. From an early age, he developed a strong work ethic that would define his life. He attended Marlborough and Kumpf grade schools, Central Junior High, and graduated from Paseo High School in 1951. While there, a shop class sparked a lifelong passion for craftsmanship. His talent was evident early on when he won first prize from Ford Motor Company in 1951 for a walnut seamen's chest featuring a hand-carved dragon.

Shortly after graduation, Don enlisted in the United States Navy on October 8, 1951, and served four years, achieving the rank of First Class. Following his service, he attended the University of Kansas, then the University of Missouri, where he graduated in 1960. After college, he was self-employed as a trim carpenter, a trade he practiced for much of his life. In the 1980s, he transitioned into real estate, purchasing and managing apartment properties.

On August 30, 1958, Don married Audrey Jensen, beginning a partnership that would span 67 years and bring them three children. Together, they built a life grounded in hard work, creativity, and shared goals. Don worked much of his life as a carpenter, mastering both wood and metal, and took great pride in building not only five homes for his family, but also much of their furniture. He even crafted a couple of banjos. In 1973, he and Audrey purchased 40 acres in Harrisonville, where Don built a barn, shop, storage shed, and more, creating a home that reflected his skill and determination.

In 1987, Don and Audrey purchased a Victorian home in Harrisonville, built in 1893. It became his restored masterpiece and the only home he owned that he had not built from the ground up. With patience and precision, he spent years bringing it back to life.

Don was a man of action, not words. He had a deep appreciation for auctions, antiques, trains, pocketknives, and anything that could be repurposed. He especially loved old cars, beginning with his first Model T as a young man and continuing a lifelong passion.

Don is survived by his sons, Michael Gregory Bockelman and Bradley Steven Bockelman (Sandi); his daughter, Jenifer Beth Dick (Ray); grandchildren: Michael Alan Bockelman, Brian Lee Bockelman (Lauren), Abraham Raymond Dick, Nathaniel Ethan Dick, and Eleanor Maureen Hanna (Jordan); and great-grandsons, Theodore Jack Hanna and Baker Lee Bockelman. He also leaves behind his sister, Carol Ann Bockelman, of Sequim, WA; along with other family and loved ones.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Audrey Maureen Bockelman; his parents, Arthur Martin and Dena Louisa Bertha (Goosman) Bockelman; his sisters: Darline Bernice Metsker, Naomi Irene Beisel, Shirley Nadine Foley; his brothers: Allen Don Bockelman, Arthur Gene Bockelman, James Dewey Bockelman, and Paul Gordon Bockelman; and his daughter-in-law, Sharon Sue (Grinstead) Bockelman.

Don's life was defined by the work of his hands and the quiet strength of his character. The homes he built, the pieces he crafted, and the life he created with Audrey stand as a lasting testament to his dedication, skill, and enduring legacy.

"Let the kindness of the Lord our God be over us. Make the work of our hands last. Make the work of our hands last!" - Psalms 90:17