The Life of JAMES ROBERT HOEPKER
James Robert Hoepker, 63, went home to Jesus on February 2, 2014, at Mercy Hospice in Johnston. Services will be held at Hamilton’s at 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines, Iowa. Visitors will be greeted on Thursday, February 6, from 5 to 8 p.m., and the memorial service will be on Friday, February 7, at 12 p.m. Burial will be at Highland Memory Gardens.
Jim was born in Creston, Iowa, on March 7, 1950, to Elton and Evelyn (Eivins) Hoepker. He grew up in rural Orient, Iowa, and attended Orient-Macksburg High School. In 1973, Jim graduated from Northwest Missouri State University with a Bachelors degree in Marketing and Management.
After college, Jim worked for Massey Ferguson in Des Moines for seventeen years as a Marketing Representative. When Massey Ferguson left Des Moines, Jim went to work for Universal Cooperatives in Minneapolis as a Distribution Manager for three years. Returning to the Des Moines area, he took a job with Bridgestone/Firestone as a Tire Inspector, where he worked for sixteen years.
On May 9, 1987, Jim was united in marriage to Cynthia (Viers) at the Church of the Land at Living History Farms. They had a daughter, Jessica, three years later. Jim retired in April 2010 after being diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease).
Jim especially loved spending time with his family and friends. Jim was a born-again Christian who enjoyed volunteering at Point of Grace Church in Waukee and meeting with his bible study group. In his spare time, Jim enjoyed biking on the local trails and supporting the Iowa State Cyclones. He was a part-time farmer and really loved the peace and quiet that the farm provided. One of Jim’s favorite hobbies was collecting and restoring toy and full-sized tractors. He was an avid supporter of the ALS Association of Iowa and attended the ALS support groups. Jim was motivated and inspired by meeting other families affected by this terrible disease. The ALS Association and the supportive staff were a great help to Jim and his family.
Jim is survived by his wife of 26 years, Cindy; daughters, Jessie and Shannon (Brad) Terry; siblings, Keith (Jane White), Dale, and Gary Hoepker, Carolyn (Jim) Collins and Joan (Doug) Brunell; and grandsons, Nicolas and Mason Terry. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Elton and Evelyn, and his sister, Catherine.
Jim was a gentle, hard-working man who cared deeply for his family and friends. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Memorial contributions can be made to the ALS Association of Iowa, 900 Mulberry Street, Suite 204, Des Moines, IA 50309, or Mercy Hospice-Johnston, 5820 Winwood Drive, Johnston, IA 50131. The family wishes to thank everyone for all of their kindness, love, support, and prayers, with special thanks to the many care providers, the ALS Association, and the Mercy Hospice staff in Johnston for their tender loving care.
Jim was born in Creston, Iowa, on March 7, 1950, to Elton and Evelyn (Eivins) Hoepker. He grew up in rural Orient, Iowa, and attended Orient-Macksburg High School. In 1973, Jim graduated from Northwest Missouri State University with a Bachelors degree in Marketing and Management.
After college, Jim worked for Massey Ferguson in Des Moines for seventeen years as a Marketing Representative. When Massey Ferguson left Des Moines, Jim went to work for Universal Cooperatives in Minneapolis as a Distribution Manager for three years. Returning to the Des Moines area, he took a job with Bridgestone/Firestone as a Tire Inspector, where he worked for sixteen years.
On May 9, 1987, Jim was united in marriage to Cynthia (Viers) at the Church of the Land at Living History Farms. They had a daughter, Jessica, three years later. Jim retired in April 2010 after being diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease).
Jim especially loved spending time with his family and friends. Jim was a born-again Christian who enjoyed volunteering at Point of Grace Church in Waukee and meeting with his bible study group. In his spare time, Jim enjoyed biking on the local trails and supporting the Iowa State Cyclones. He was a part-time farmer and really loved the peace and quiet that the farm provided. One of Jim’s favorite hobbies was collecting and restoring toy and full-sized tractors. He was an avid supporter of the ALS Association of Iowa and attended the ALS support groups. Jim was motivated and inspired by meeting other families affected by this terrible disease. The ALS Association and the supportive staff were a great help to Jim and his family.
Jim is survived by his wife of 26 years, Cindy; daughters, Jessie and Shannon (Brad) Terry; siblings, Keith (Jane White), Dale, and Gary Hoepker, Carolyn (Jim) Collins and Joan (Doug) Brunell; and grandsons, Nicolas and Mason Terry. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Elton and Evelyn, and his sister, Catherine.
Jim was a gentle, hard-working man who cared deeply for his family and friends. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Memorial contributions can be made to the ALS Association of Iowa, 900 Mulberry Street, Suite 204, Des Moines, IA 50309, or Mercy Hospice-Johnston, 5820 Winwood Drive, Johnston, IA 50131. The family wishes to thank everyone for all of their kindness, love, support, and prayers, with special thanks to the many care providers, the ALS Association, and the Mercy Hospice staff in Johnston for their tender loving care.