Charles Lynn and Illa Jensen Elcock welcomed their oldest son Von J. Elcock, who passed from this life into eternity on August 25, 2014 after losing a three year battle with cancer. Von was also welcomed by his grandparents, wonderful aunts, uncles, cousins and extended family members, his father and mother-in-law, an abundance of friends from New York to California, and a few prized pets: 8-Ball, Nicky, and Sam.
Von was born March 15, 1945, with the first wave of baby-boomers and was the oldest of the Elcock’s three sons. He graduated as salutatorian from Malad High School in1963 and then from Utah State University in 1968, where he became a fraternity brother to the members of Sigma Phi Epsilon. In 1965, Von married his high school sweetheart Annette Davis and together they welcomed four children into their family: two daughters, Dawnie Lynn and April Yvonne and two sons: Emerson Davis, and J. Matthew.
Von worked in the Moore Business Forms plant for two years and upon his graduation from Utah State University in 1968, with a degree in finance and economics, the company offered him a position in the accounting department. He worked for Moore Business Forms for forty years as an estimator/cost accountant.
He was transferred from Logan, Utah to the new Jerome, Idaho plant in 1976. In 1979, he accepted a transfer to the Western Headquarters of Moore Business Forms in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 1983, Von agreed to another transfer back to Idaho, which lasted four more years.
In 1987, another transfer took the family to Western New York where he worked at the Grand Island Research Center of Moore North America. While in New York, Von was sent to Europe to install pricing programs in England, Germany, France, and Austria. But in 1992, after five years in New York, Von requested a transfer back to the west as he maintained that every time he looked in the rearview mirror there was a car … too many people. So once again the Elcock clan returned home to Idaho and Von worked for MBF until the company was sold in 2003. Von decided not to accept the transfer to southern Utah and worked as an accountant/bookkeeper for Ron’s American Car Care in Jerome for number of years, retiring due to health reasons in 2011.
Von is a life-long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints and served in the LDS Church as a home teacher, Sunday School teacher, Elder’s Quorum Counselor, Young Men’s President, Scout Master, Bishopric Counselor, and High Priest Group Secretary, but his calling as the Ward Finance Clerk seemed to fit him best as he fulfilled this calling for over sixteen years. Von was a “numbers guy” and took pleasure in making sure the numbers were correct with regards to checkbooks, taxes, or the bathroom scales.
Besides spending time with his family, Von found time to enjoy his second passion which was rebuilding old cars such as the following: two or three 1965 Ford Mustangs, a 1955 Chevy Nomad, three 1955 Chevys, a 1940 Ford Sedan as well as a 1940 Ford Coupe, a 1936 Ford Coup, 1942 Ford pick-up, and a 1968 Chevelle. One time Von was selling one of his projects and advertised it in the newspaper on a Saturday. A man called and said he wanted it but couldn’t get the money until Monday. Von agreed to wait until Monday but a couple of hours later another man came to the house and wanted to buy the car right then. Both of his sons stated that the man had the money and offered an extra two thousand dollars if he would sell the car right then. Von told the man he was sorry but the car was sold. Both of his hyoung sons were aghast but their father explained his actions by saying to them, “A man is only as good as his word.” The lesson had been given and received.
Von leaves behind his wife and best-friend, Annette of forty-nine years, two like-minded brothers: Curt (Carol) Elcock of Malad, Idaho, Larry ( Donna) of Riverton, Wyoming, his four precious and well-loved children: Dawnie Lynn (Anthony) Rocca of Alamo, California, April Yvonne (Brett) Yates of Livonia, Michigan, Emerson Davis (Jennifer) Elcock of Huntersville, North Carolina, and J. Matthew (Dawnell) Elcock of Layton, Utah, eleven grandchildren: Gianna and Cade Rocca; Amelia Yates (Remick) Underwood, Elizabeth Yates (Cody) Knudsen, Elder Benjamin Yates (serving in the Orlando, Florida Mission for the LDS Church) and Jacob Yates; Tyler and Emma Elcock; Gabriel, AshLynn, and Dax Von Elcock, one great-grandson Westley Underwood.
Visitation will be at Farnsworth Mortuary in Jerome from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m . on Thursday, August 28 and one hour prior to the service on Friday (12:00). Services for Brother Elcock will be on Friday the 29th of August at I:00 p.m. at the Jerome 1st Ward Building. There will be a gravesite service in Malad. Idaho at the Malad City Cemetery on Saturday the 30th of August at 1:00 p.m .
The family would like to thank the many wonderful friends and neighbors as well as Dr. Irwin and staff, and Alliance Home Health for their care and service during this difficult time.