Daughter Wants To Know Who Defaced Her Late Father's Bench

OAK CREEK, WI -- The daughter of an Oak Creek man who lost his life in 2017 is trying to learn who was responsible for defacing the bench that was installed in Bender Park in his honor.

Over the weekend, Elizabeth Sparks went out to Bender Park only to find that someone spray painted her late father's memorial bench in red spray paint.

Her father, Joe Cocking, had lost his life in Sept. 2017 in a tragic motorcycle accident. She posted the photos of the defaced bench on Facebook, and received numerous comments of support.

"Thank you for all your kind comments. The kindness of many will always outweigh the poor choices of the few," she wrote on Sunday morning.

"Besides the memorial bench that was placed in Bender Park (North end, right off the parking lot). There is also a scholarship fund established in my father's (Joe Cocking) name - to continue to give back to not only Oak Creek, but so many others," Sparks wrote. "Please feel free to follow the scholarship fund Joseph Cocking Memorial Hockey Scholarship Fund."

In an obituary posted in Sept. 2017, Cocking had many passions, including a love for both riding his motorcycle and the sport of hockey. "Joe lived a life of happiness, love, and fun. He enjoyed the traveling his career at Modine Manufacturing in Sturtevant brought him. Besides his love of everything Harley, he had a passion for hockey. He shared his love of the sport over the years with not only family, but with people that called him Coach Joe. He coached in Illinois, and Wisconsin, most recently with the Marquette Golden Eagles."

Submitted Photo, Published With Permission