Sandra Cocek

Sandra Cocek passed away quietly at Providence Hospice on June 20, 2017, after a months-long hospitalization and fight with cancer. Services will be1:00 p.m., Saturday, June 24, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home with Pastor Paul Krupica officiating. Burial will follow at Waco Memorial Park. Visitation will be 12:00-1:00 p.m., at the funeral home prior to the service. She was born Sandra Kay Spitzenberger to Arthur and Charlene Spitzenberger of McGregor, Texas, on June 5, 1960. Growing up in McGregor, she was active in McLennan County 4-H, participated in UIL competitions and was first chair French horn in the MHS marching band. She was particularly proud of not missing a single day of public school. Sandy married Kenneth Cocek on October 6, 1978. When Ken began working evenings, Sandy effectively took on the role of single parent most days, from helping with homework to the kids' sporting events. This started with their first son, Steven, continued with their second, Christopher, and then with granddaughter, Michelle, who they adopted in 2009 - a span of 35 years. Activities included school, soccer, baseball, basketball, softball and swim, and Sandy missed only one event due to having recently given birth to Christopher. This spoke of her love of her own kids, as well as her love of working with all kids. For several years, she served as a room mom at Woodway Elementary and was editor of the Cub Tales newsletter, which garnered Texas Elementary Newsletter of the year for 1999-2000. At St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Sandy regularly helped with Kids of the Kingdom, Vacation Bible School and the annual Christmas pageant, and also helped start the puppet ministry there. She served for a time as editor of the Women of the ELCA Tapestry newsletter. Arts and crafts were Sandy's favorite pastime, whether it be knitting, macrame, needlepoint, crochet or scrapbooking, to name a few. As her mobility declined, she still contributed by knitting many, many prayer shawls for the prayer shawl ministry, as well as elaborate blankets for family and friends. Sandy was a faithful wife, a loving mother and grandmother, and always willing to give of herself to others. She was preceded in death by her parents; and her brother, Arthur Spitzenberger, Jr. Sandy is survived by her husband, Ken of Woodway; sons, James Steven of McGregor and Christopher Alan of Woodway; granddaughter, Michelle of Woodway; grandsons, Dakota and Kenneth of Lorena; and sister, Wanda Stevens of Greenville, Texas. Pallbearers will be Larry Bubert, John Callon, Michelle Cocek, Jason Ehlers, Charles Lam and Wiley Starnes. The family requests that memorials be made to St. Matthew Lutheran Church, The family invites you to leave a message or memory on our “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com.