We have received word of the June 2014 death of Bob Hoeppner, a friend of Grace College and its students. He moved to Warsaw, Ind., to become president of Grace Manufacturing, a company that employed many Grace students and gave profits to Grace. His obituary appears below.
Robert “Bob” Martin Hoeppner of Warsaw, Ind., went home to be with the Lord at 4:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 14, 2014, at his residence at the age of 84.
He was a resident of Kosciusko County, Ind., for the past 44 years. Bob graduated from Isaac C. Elston High School in 1948. He also attended the University of Chicago, Department of Continuing Education (Business Management) and Purdue University (Computer Technology).
His employment included the New York Central Railroad, Signal Department; also he was vice-president of application engineering at The Hays Corporation in Michigan City, Ind. In 1969 he moved to Warsaw, Ind., to become president and co-owner of Grace Manufacturing, Inc., a company set-up to employ Grace students and give profits to Grace.
He was in the U.S. Army and served with the 324th Army Band in Aberdeen Proving Ground Maryland and was honorably discharged in 1961.
Bob served in many Baptist churches as a Sunday School Teacher, church treasurer, board of Deacons, and building committee chairman. He also served on the founding school board of Lakeland Christian Academy. In addition to his church work, Bob enjoyed many years of amateur radio…his call was K9LZV.
He was born on February 15, 1930, in Michigan City, Ind., to Martin L. Hoeppner and Lula M. (Delesky) Hoeppner. On October 28, 1950 he was married in Michigan City to Nancy A. (Nichols) Hoeppner, who survives in Warsaw.
Also surviving is his son: Daniel (wife Rhonda) Hoeppner (Warsaw, Ind.); two grandchildren: Angela (husband Scott) King; David Hoeppner; two great-grandchildren: Rebekah and Matthew King (all of Warsaw, Ind.); and one nephew: Robert Runion (Michigan City, Ind.). He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister June (Hoeppner) Runion, and a brother-in-law, Wilber Runion.
His funeral service was conducted on Wednesday, June 18, 2014, at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, Warsaw, Ind., and officiated by Pastor Bruce Barlow. Burial followed with a graveside service at Oakwood Cemetery of Warsaw.
Memorial donations may be directed to Lakeland Christian Academy, 1093 S. 250 E., Winona Lake, Ind. 46590; or to Warsaw Christian School, 909 S. Buffalo Street, Warsaw, Ind., 46580 and would be appreciated by his family.