John Ray Hobbs 1952-2010

HOBBS KOSAREK

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 11/6/2010 at 22:41:17

Sioux City Journal
25 February 2010

SLOAN, Iowa -- John Ray "J.R." Hobbs, 57, formerly of rural Sloan passed away on Friday, Feb. 19, 2010, at his home in Eldora, Iowa.

Memorial service will be 11:30 a.m. March 29 at the Downtown Holiday Inn in Sioux City. Private graveside services will in the Harrison Cemetery in Whiting, Iowa.

John was born July 5, 1952, at Onawa, Iowa, to John W. and Lois Hobbs. He was raised on a farm north of Sloan. He graduated from Westwood High School in 1970. In 1978, he married Rose Kosarek. They had two children. They were divorced in 1994.

Born into a farming family, John Deere tractors were a major part of his life from an early age. A favorite childhood story that his mother would tell him, was later published as the popular children's book, Corny Cornpicker and His Friends. In his youth, he spent countless hours driving tractors on the farm with his Dad and Grandpa Otis.

As an adult, J.R. worked at a John Deere dealership and later, after several years of farming, made a living buying and selling antique tractors and implements. This experience gave him the knowledge to begin writing about John Deere tractors. He wrote dozens of articles for Two-Cylinder magazine and Green magazine, as well as several books. He was a dedicated seeker of facts about John Deere tractors and was considered to be one of the leading experts in the field.

He is survived by his two children, John J. Hobbs (Melissa) of Norfolk Neb., and Valerie Hobbs of Sioux City; his five grandchildren, John T., Luke, Rachel, Nathaniel, and Sarah; his mother, Lois Hobbs of Sloan; and sister, Kris Carr of Sergeant Bluff.

He was preceded in death by his father, John W. Hobbs.

He will be missed as a son, dad, grandpa, and friend.