Robert. H. Hoeft, age 96, of West Bend, passed away on Tuesday, June 12, 2012 at the Samaritan Health & Rehabilitation Center in West Bend.
He was born on March 3, 1916 in the Town of Wayne to the late Ernst and Gesine (nee Stoehr) Hoeft. On June 10, 1941 Bob was united in marriage to Dolores C. Bales at Holy Angels Catholic Church. Dolores preceded him in death on October 12, 2007. Bob served his country honorably in the United States Army during WWII from December 1942 until September 1945. He was a member of the Fifth Army, 894 Tank Destroyer Battalion. While on duty during the Italian-African campaign, he sustained a combat injury in Italy for which he received the Purple Heart award
Bob worked at the Line Material division of McGraw-Edison in West Bend for eighteen years and retired from Gehl Manufacturing Company on June 26, 1981, where he spent ten years. During his retirement, Bob worked part-time at Myrhum ~ Patten Funeral and Cremation Service.
In 1945, Bob and Dolores joined St. Mary's Immaculate Conception Parish. They were members and former officers of the West Bend Square Steppers from 1955 until 1991. Bob was a member of Fred A. Schaefer VFW Post #1393 for over 50 years.
Bob is survived by three sons, Jerry (Sandy) Hoeft of Heathrow, FL, Gene Hoeft of West Bend, and Steven (Debra) Hoeft of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL; six grandchildren, Monty Hoeft of Seattle, WA, Megan Hoeft of Winter Springs, FL, Sean Tepper of West Allis, Stephanie Tepper of Fort Collins, CO, Nicholas Hoeft of Houston, TX and Daniel Hoeft of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL; two brothers, Walter Hoeft of West Bend and William (Betsy) Hoeft of Green Bay; one sister, Mary Struebing of Plymouth; one son-in-law, John (Mary) Tepper of Wisconsin Rapids; two brothers-in-law, Franklin (Margaret) Bales and Eugene Belunes of West Bend; nieces; nephews; other relatives and friends.
Preceding him in death were his wife, Dolores; his only daughter, Marilyn Tepper; four brothers, August (Mae) Hoeft, Arthur, Hugo (Olive) Hugo, and Paul (Gladys) Hoeft; four brothers-in-law, Alex (Marie) Bales, Raymond (Loretta) Bales, Sylvester (Alice) Bales and Robert Struebing; and two sisters-in-law, Rosalie Hoeft and Sylvia Belunes.
A Mass of Christian Burial in remembrance of Robert will be held on Wednesday, June 20th at 10:00 am, at St. Mary's Immaculate Conception Parish, 1610 Monroe St., West Bend. Rev. Robert Bales will be presiding. Burial with full military honors will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, Barton. A reception at Myrhum ~ Patten Funeral Home will follow the burial.
Visitation will be Tuesday, June 19th at the Myrhum-Patten Funeral Home, 1315 W. Washington St., West Bend from 4:00 pm until 6:30 pm with a Vigil Service at 6:30 pm. Closing of the casket prayers will take place on Wednesday at 9:30 am at the funeral home with a funeral procession to the church.
Memorials to St. Mary's Immaculate Conception Parish are appreciated by the family Online guestbook and condolences may be found at www.myrhum-patten.com.