Robert J. Hoefer 1926-2012

HOEFER BAKER

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 5/27/2012 at 19:05:47

Sioux City Journal
March 18, 2012

SIOUX CITY -- Robert J. Hoefer, 85, of Urbandale, Iowa, formerly of Sioux City, passed away Monday, March 12, 2012, at his home surrounded by his family.

Services will be at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of McLaren's Resthaven Chapel and Mortuary in West Des Moines, Iowa.

Bob was born Dec. 1, 1926, in Charter Oak, Iowa, to Chris and Lela Hoefer. His family relocated to Sioux City where he lived the majority of his life. He attended Central High School where he was a football and baseball stand out. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

After the war he returned to Sioux City and enrolled at Morningside College where he continued his football prowess. It was there he met the love of his life, Dorothy Baker. After a lively courtship they married March 12, 1949.

Bob joined his father Chris in the family business, JDD, a company providing equipment and materials to John Deere implement dealers.While at JDD, he took an interest in another industry, and through his client base he began his life insurance career in 1955 with Prudential. He loved the business and was the first million-dollar producer in the state of Iowa.

In 1966 Bob and his brother Bill started The Administrators in Sioux City. This business was a TPA and health insurance provider. They built the business with their sons into a multimillion-dollar premium operation, insuring school districts, municipalities, businesses and associations. Bob continued in the life insurance business, and in 1975 he purchased Brokers Clearing House LTD in West Des Moines. This entity provided a brokerage outlet to insurance producers for products, services and underwriting expertise not otherwise available to them. Bob was active in his industry. He was a lifelong member of NAIFA Life Inc., a founder of LifeMark Partners Inc. and helped establish NAILBA. He was a life and qualifying member of MDRT.

Bob was instrumental in his community raising funds for countless organizations. He was a member of Abu Bekr Shrine and a 50-year member of the Tyrian Lodge in Sioux City. He was a lifelong Democrat and was active in politics on every level. He was a devoted Iowa Hawkeye but was big enough to cheer for all Iowa teams.

He was an avid reader who loved to engage those he met in spirited conversation on any type of current affairs, business, sports or politics. He traveled all over the world with his wife Dorothy and other family members.

His merits of applying himself to tasks and goals at hand let him achieve great success by dreaming big, taking risks, following his passion and diligently honoring his craft.

Bob was a person of integrity, honesty and confidence -- the kind of man whose word was his bond. He always put family and friends first. He would tell you that he treasured every memory he lived, for each of them is a memory of where he has been.

Survivors include his children, Barbara Crowley of West Des Moines, Mark (Tanya) Hoefer of West Des Moines, Gail Merritt of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Sara (Fred) Silverberg of Arroyo Grande, Calif.; his grandchildren, Robert Crowley, Ryan Merritt, Brandon Merritt, Danielle Hoefer, Carlie Hoefer, Stacey Helvey, Adam (Farrah) Silverberg and Ross Silverberg; two great-granddaughters, Kendall Merritt and Hayden Silverberg; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, William Hoefer; a sister, Mary Jane Hoefer; and his beloved wife, Dorothy Hoefer.

Memorials may be directed to Hope Ministries at info@hopeiowa.org, NAILBA Charitable Foundation at www.nailba.org or The Variety Club of Iowa at www.varietyiowa.com.

The family expresses gratitude to Robert's caregivers.