Remembering our roots ~ Dale & Heather Cockx

Times Contributor

 

This family name originated at Roosendal, Holland. Dale’s father Cornelius “Corny” Cockx came to Canada in 1926, to check out land in the Peace River area. He brought the rest of his family here from Holland in 1930. Both Corny and his father were bonded livestock dealers when they moved here, and it was only natural for them to continue in this line of work on arrival.

Dale and his twin brother Darrel were born in November 1947 in Strathmore, and lived in a small two-bedroom house of around 700 sq. ft. located across from what is now Lambert Park, and where the Lutheran Church now stands. 

His older brother Frankie, older sister Mary Ann, his twin brother Darrel and he shared one very compact bedroom. In the other slightly larger bedroom, his younger brothers Eric and Mason shared with Mom and Dad. It was cozy and created many fond memories.

His grandparents on his mother’s side, Verne and Helen Belts, moved to Wheatland County from Pendleton, Ore. in 1916. His mother was born here, and worked as a telephone operator until 1938, when she took time off to raise her six children. She later returned to this work from 1960 to 1965 until operators were no longer required, then worked for the Post Office from 1965 until her retirement in 1982.

Heather’s grandfather immigrated to Canada from Cumwhitton, England while her grandmother came from Glasgow, Scotland. 

Her father, Bill Fawkes, was born and raised on the family farm at Namaka. Her mother Yvonne Cote was from a very large family of 13, and grew up on a farm north of Carseland. Her grandparents Walter and Ethel Cote had moved here from Indiana in 1909. Heather was born at the family farm in Namaka in 1948, during one of the many blizzards prevalent in those years. In 1952, her father Bill and many other family members contracted polio, and dad lost most of the use of his left arm. He was hospitalized for a year, and Heather, her mom and sister Monica had to go and live with their grandparents in Carseland. After dad returned home, he still couldn’t do much work, so the family moved to Strathmore. 

Heather and Dale knew each other before attending Samuel Crowther High School in Strathmore in the mid-1960s. They were married in 1969, and this was the start of the best 45 years of their lives. They had two sons, Darren born in 1973, and Scott born in 1975. Darren married Krista Piper in 2000, and Scott married Renae Nino in 2001. A new chapter opened in Dale and Heather’s lives with the arrival of their grandchildren – Aidan and Connor (Darren) and Parker and Karson (Scott). These six (2+4) boys have provided many years of entertainment and enjoyment. It would be hard, if not impossible, to find two parents and grandparents that are more proud. Scott received a baseball scholarship in the U.S. and is now a commodity/stock broker. Darren took an extensive course on photography in Vancouver, B.C. On returning to Strathmore in 1993, he opened Image Works Photography, and has now been joined in this business by his wife Krista, and their sons Aidan and Connor. In 2011, Bowridge Drilling Ltd was formed and now Darren is involved fulltime in the oil and gas industry.

Dale remembers that in his early years, their family had the Calgary Herald paper route for 16 years. His brother Frankie started it, then handed it down to Mary Ann, then to the twins Dale and Darrel, to Eric, then finally to Mason.

In 1964, Dale began his career with Western Feedlots Ltd, first as a feed truck driver and then became a pen rider, before moving into the office as administration manager, in 1968. 

After a few years, he was promoted to General Manager where he remained until April 1984, when he decided to move to a different line of work, and became a fully licensed commodity/stock broker with Refco Canada Ltd. He retired from this very successful career in 2009. 

He says that his 20 years with Western Feedlots Ltd really helped pave the way for his prosperous brokerage business. Two individuals were instrumental in his success and had a profound influence on him. They are Eion Chisholm, Managing Director of Western Feedlots Ltd and Pierre Gloutney, CEO of Refco Canada Ltd. Dale has the greatest respect and admiration for them both.

In 1986, Dale joined the Cheadle Lions Club, and this current year is serving the club as president for the 2014-2015 term. This club is jam packed with good solid volunteers.

Both Dale and Heather have been stalwart members of 4-H, initially as their sons grew up, and now with their grandchildren. In 1979, Dale was invited to join “The Sodbusters Investment Syndicate”, a club he has enjoyed immensely, and which will celebrate its 50th Anniversary in 2015. Twelve people formed this club in 1965, and it is still restricted to 12 members who meet every month or two to share ideas and investment opportunities.

Unfortunately, Heather was diagnosed with mylodisplasia, a medical term for blood cancer in 2005. After five years of blood transfusions, she was diagnosed with full-blown leukemia, and she needed an urgent bone marrow transplant. After many trips to the Peter Lougheed Hospital and the Tom Baker Cancer Centre, she was sent home “in good health” in 2010. But a year later her lungs collapsed and she was rushed to ICU at the Foothills Hospital. Eventually, she returned home on 24/7 oxygen, and is pleased to announce at the time of writing this article, that “she is in very good health” and no longer on full-time oxygen. Not a day goes by when she doesn’t thank the saints and angels of the Peter Lougheed and Tom Baker hospitals for their professional care and guidance.

She admits that Dale has been her “Diamond in the Rough,” and without him she could not have proceeded.

Reflecting on the last 45 years – Dale comments that when they had the paper route, they probably knew 75 per cent of the folks living in Strathmore. But now, sadly, with all the changes, he doubts if they know more than 5 per cent or maybe even less.

They have lived in this wonderful community for 43 years, surrounded by great neighbours, who in the early years helped them grow up, as well as helping with their family.

“We, the Cockx Family, are grateful and proud to have been, and continue to be, residents of this beautiful part of the world called Strathmore, Alberta,” they said.

A sign in Dale’s office states: “And I Think to Myself, What a Wonderful Place.”