HURD, Robert L. (1950-2016)

HURD

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/6/2017 at 23:46:48

Robert Louis Hurd
(June 27, 1950 - April 27, 2016)

On Wednesday, April 27, 2016, after a short but hard fought battle with cancer, Rob made the final journey home. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1 pm on Sunday, May 15th, at the Prairie Meadows Event Center. 1 Prairie Meadows Dr., Altoona, Ia. Rob was born June 27, 1950 to Don and Wilma Hurd of Popejoy. He was the youngest of their five children. Rob graduated from Alden High School in 1968. Later that year he married Linda Burke and they had four children, Angie, Robbi, Scott, and Brenda. Scott died of leukemia in 1980. They were divorced in 1983. In 1989 Rob met the love of his life and soul mate LouAnn and they were married in 1990. HIs marriage to LouAnn added her two daughters, Devan and Cassie, to the family. Rob was a hardworking man who held various jobs over the years including running a lakeside resort in Green Lake, MN, selling mobile homes in Franklin MN, owning his own bar and restaurant in Howard, SD. , managing Bonanza Steakhouse in Des Moines, and selling coffee for LaRue in Iowa. He found his true passion, however, when he started raising dogs and opened his own kennel. After a decade of running his kennel, Rob had to close it due to health problems. Finding employment with America’s Pet Registry, Inc. allowed him to continue working with his passion. As a National Representative for APRI, Rob traveled all over the country helping kennel owners in any way he could, setting up and assisting in seminars, giving advice to breeders, standing up to protesters, and helping craft bills and lobbying for them in the legislature. Rob’s drive to help kennel owner also led him to co-found the Iowa Federation of Animal Owners known as IFED.
Rob was also known for his giving nature and kind heart. Over the years he has helped numerous people with whatever was needed. Whether it be money, a job, a ride, help moving, help with house repairs, or just a kind ear, Rob provided it in a quiet and unassuming manner. That led him to be asked, several years ago to help a family with a very sick child who only wanted a puppy. Because of the medical expenses the family couldn’t afford a puppy or the expenses of having a pet. Rob called on all of his friends to donate a puppy for this child and not only did they provide one, vet care and food was also donated. In the years since then there have been several other families with sick children with a request for a puppy and every time Rob found each of those children one too. It was something near and dear to his heart and truly made him happy to be able to accomplish it.
Rob was well known for his sense of humor which was sometimes quite colorful but always made you laugh. He perfected the art of keeping a straight face and at times it was extremely difficult to determine if he was serious or giving you a hard time. He was a master of the tall tale and you never got tired of hearing them because he always added something new each time he told it. He was the person you always called for advice and the advice he gave usually worked. He was kind and compassionate and had no need to be acknowledged for the help he gave. He performed amazing feats of magic (amazing to small children that is), he had the “best meatballs” (bought from Hy-Vee) and gave the best birthday presents ever (strawberries). He always told you the truth but never without being asked for his opinion first. Rob always found the humor in life and had a laugh that made you laugh along. He never met a stranger and collected friends wherever he went. He was a man well loved and will be sorely missed…
Those left to honor Rob’s memory are LouAnn, his wife of 26 years; children Angie (Brad) Dutton, Robbi (Brent) Mozak, Brenda Fees, Devan (Jeremiah) Elbel, and Cassie Kennedy (Dusty Poole); grandchildren Erik Dutton, Nicole Mozak, Candace (Jason) Lussier, Gabrielle Smith, Guinevere Mozak, Emmalynne Mozak, Sawyer Mozak, Adrianna Fees, Madison Fees, Aislen Elbel, Cohen Elbel, and Arienne Poole; great grandchildren Kayla Lussier, Ryder Lussier, Zoie Lussier, and Alaric Lussier; siblings Fran (Gene) Jondall, and Lloyd (Jan) Hurd; numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins. Rob was preceded in death by his parents Don and Wilma Hurd, brother Ed Hurd, sister Fonda Hickethier, and son Scott Hurd. On Wednesday, April 27, 2016, after a short but hard fought battle with cancer, Rob made the final journey home. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1 pm on Sunday, May 15th, at the Prairie Meadows Event Center. 1 Prairie Meadows Dr., Altoona, Ia.
Rob was born June 27, 1950 to Don and Wilma Hurd of Popejoy. He was the youngest of their five children. Rob graduated from Alden High School in 1968. Later that year he married Linda Burke and they had four children, Angie, Robbi, Scott, and Brenda. Scott died of leukemia in 1980. They were divorced in 1983.
In 1989 Rob met the love of his life and soul mate LouAnn and they were married in 1990. HIs marriage to LouAnn added her two daughters, Devan and Cassie, to the family.
Rob was a hardworking man who held various jobs over the years including running a lakeside resort in Green Lake, MN, selling mobile homes in Franklin MN, owning his own bar and restaurant in Howard, SD. , managing Bonanza Steakhouse in Des Moines, and selling coffee for LaRue in Iowa. He found his true passion, however, when he started raising dogs and opened his own kennel. After a decade of running his kennel, Rob had to close it due to health problems. Finding employment with America’s Pet Registry, Inc. allowed him to continue working with his passion. As a National Representative for APRI, Rob traveled all over the country helping kennel owners in any way he could, setting up and assisting in seminars, giving advice to breeders, standing up to protesters, and helping craft bills and lobbying for them in the legislature. Rob’s drive to help kennel owner also led him to co-found the Iowa Federation of Animal Owners known as IFED.
Rob was also known for his giving nature and kind heart. Over the years he has helped numerous people with whatever was needed. Whether it be money, a job, a ride, help moving, help with house repairs, or just a kind ear, Rob provided it in a quiet and unassuming manner. That led him to be asked, several years ago to help a family with a very sick child who only wanted a puppy. Because of the medical expenses the family couldn’t afford a puppy or the expenses of having a pet. Rob called on all of his friends to donate a puppy for this child and not only did they provide one, vet care and food was also donated. In the years since then there have been several other families with sick children with a request for a puppy and every time Rob found each of those children one too. It was something near and dear to his heart and truly made him happy to be able to accomplish it.
Rob was well known for his sense of humor which was sometimes quite colorful but always made you laugh. He perfected the art of keeping a straight face and at times it was extremely difficult to determine if he was serious or giving you a hard time. He was a master of the tall tale and you never got tired of hearing them because he always added something new each time he told it. He was the person you always called for advice and the advice he gave usually worked. He was kind and compassionate and had no need to be acknowledged for the help he gave. He performed amazing feats of magic (amazing to small children that is), he had the “best meatballs” (bought from Hy-Vee) and gave the best birthday presents ever (strawberries). He always told you the truth but never without being asked for his opinion first. Rob always found the humor in life and had a laugh that made you laugh along. He never met a stranger and collected friends wherever he went. He was a man well loved and will be sorely missed…
Those left to honor Rob’s memory are LouAnn, his wife of 26 years; children Angie (Brad) Dutton, Robbi (Brent) Mozak, Brenda Fees, Devan (Jeremiah) Elbel, and Cassie Kennedy (Dusty Poole); grandchildren Erik Dutton, Nicole Mozak, Candace (Jason) Lussier, Gabrielle Smith, Guinevere Mozak, Emmalynne Mozak, Sawyer Mozak, Adrianna Fees, Madison Fees, Aislen Elbel, Cohen Elbel, and Arienne Poole; great grandchildren Kayla Lussier, Ryder Lussier, Zoie Lussier, and Alaric Lussier; siblings Fran (Gene) Jondall, and Lloyd (Jan) Hurd; numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins. Rob was preceded in death by his parents Don and Wilma Hurd, brother Ed Hurd, sister Fonda Hickethier, and son Scott Hurd.