James Mark Rocklin

Sioux City, IA – James Mark Rocklin, 74, of Sioux City, IA died January 13, 2017, at his home.  Rocklin endured 25 months with pancreatic cancer.

Memorial services will be at 11:00 a.m., Monday at Congregation Beth Shalom.  Rabbi Hillel “Guy” Greene will officiate.  Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel is in charge of arrangements. 

James Mark Rocklin was born October 30, 1942 to Isadore and Rena (Marco) Rocklin in Sioux City.  He attended school in Sioux City and graduated from Central High School.  Rocklin studied mechanical/industrial engineering, business management and also law at the University of Iowa.  He was admitted to the Bar Association in Iowa, California, Minnesota, Colorado, Nebraska as well as the United States Supreme Court.

He practiced law in San Francisco for many years and served as House Counsel for Bechtel Corporation, Deputy Attorney General of the State of California, and later in private practice in San Rafael, California.  Rocklin moved to Minneapolis where he was involved in commercial real estate and then moved to Colorado where he served as House Counsel for Storage Technology.

He returned to his home town in 1976 to be President of Rocklin Manufacturing Co., a family owned industrial electronics manufacturing company with worldwide sales; and concurrently for thirty years was engaged in private law practice in the Frances Building.  He was a general practitioner with emphasis on immigration law.

He married Fern L. (Yellen) Rocklin in Minneapolis on November 2, 1975.

He is survived by his spouse, his daughter, Margo A. Rocklin Goldman and son-in-law Frank Goldman and grandson Wyatt Isadore Rocklin Goldman of Denver, Colorado; and his son, Ross M. Rocklin and daughter-in-law Lauren Rocklin and granddaughter Siena Grace Rocklin and grandson Dawson Jacob Rocklin of Chicago, Illinois.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Isadore and Rena Rocklin.

Rocklin was a lifelong Boy Scout leader and is an Eagle Scout and a Silver Beaver Recipient.  He was a publicly elected member of Western Iowa Tech Community College Board of Directors for sixteen years and served as its past President.  He was a longtime member of the WITCC Foundation Board and served as its past President.  He was an active member of the Downtown Sioux City Rotary Club and a Past President.  In 2016, Rocklin received the Rotary “Key Way” Award “For his outstanding contributions toward Siouxland’s Economic Growth and Community Development.”

He was a Board Member of the Siouxland Center for Active Generations and was active as a Soup Kitchen volunteer.  He enjoyed being an amateur radio operator for over fifty years.  He started an all male reading group in 2002 and was an avid reader.

Adventure travel was a lifetime quest for Rocklin who experienced visits to 70 countries throughout the world and all 50 USA States.

Rocklin was a member of Congregation Beth Shalom.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorial contributions be directed to the “Isadore and Jim Rocklin Scholarship Fund for Engineering Students at Western Iowa Tech Community College in Sioux City” via Jim Braunschweig, executive director at WITCC email [email protected] or mailing address WITCC attn: Foundation 4647 Stone Ave. PO Box 5199 Sioux City, IA 51102.