Staff from the State Farm Insurance office in Toledo posed for a photo in front of their office on the corner of High Street and Highway 63. Pictured are Dahiana Puentes-Favela, Dalia Fuentes-Nunez, Susan Bock, Gary Bock, Darcy Smith and Kalee Gomez.

State Farm Insurance recently announced a new insurance agent will be taking the reins at their office in Toledo.

The company named Gary Bock the next agent to serve the Tama-Toledo community following the departure of agent Carmen Erhardt around late 2019.

Bock is a West Union native who followed in his fathers footsteps, starting out in the insurance business out of college. After several years in the insurance industry, Bock changed careers and became a pastor.

Over the past 20 years, Bock and his family have resided in the Urbandale area while he worked at a church there. Now after years in the ministry, Bock is returning to insurance with State Farm.

He said he was interested in reconnecting to a small town community and returning to a business he was deeply familiar with that provides opportunities to help the public.

Bock said he was immediately attracted to State Farm’s customer-first approach and found the company to be an easy fit.

Bock is joined in the business by his wife of 24 years, Susan. The couple have four daughters, ages 16 to 23 and recently purchased land near Tama-Toledo where they plan to build a home in the near future.

In his free time Bock enjoys boating, fishing, riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle, and spending time with his family, including their two dogs.

Bock takes over after more than a year interim where State Farm was without an agent to lead their Toledo office. Recent State Farm agents in Toledo have included Adam Anderson and Carmen Erhardt.

Though Bock is a newcomer to the area, he said he was encouraged by the years of experience his staff bring to the table in serving customers from the Tama-Toledo area. Darcy Smith has been with State Farm in Toledo for 12 years and Dalia Fuentes-Nunez has been with the office for five years.

As 2021 nears the halfway mark, the State Farm office in Toledo has just finished rebuilding efforts after their building on High Street took damage to the roof in the August 2020 derecho.

Bock said one of his goals in the coming months and years is to further establish his agency as an industry leader in the area and to find ways to give back and connect to the community.

The company is planning an open house celebration at the Tama-Toledo Aquatic Center to offer residents a fun way to get acquainted with the new owners.

The open house event is scheduled on Sunday, Aug. 8 from 6-8 p.m. It is free and open to the public and will include free food, swimming and giveaways.

State Farm Insurance is located at 101 S County Rd. in Toledo and can be reached by phone at 641-484-3163.