Art Hoppe, 85, died Sunday, January 17th, at his home, under the care of Ministry Hospice after battling bladder cancer for the past four years.

Art was born on February 16, 1930 to Charles and Clara (Wendt) Hoppe in Racine. He
served as a Private E-1 in the United States Army From September 11, 1951 until his honorable discharge on June 10, 1953 from Camp Carson, CO, serving during the Korean War. He earned the Korean Service Medal with 3 Bronze Service Stars and the United Nations Service Medal. He then married
Delores (Dee) Mosey on October 27, 1956 in St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Stevens Point.

Outside of his military service, Art worked at Nash in Milwaukee. Art started a career in construction working with Chet Krause and as a union carpenter prior to starting his own construction company Stasko and Hoppe Builders followed by Art Hoppe Builders until his retirement in 1982. He also was a Real Estate Broker and was a member of the MLS under Art Hoppe Realtors.
During his younger years, Art enjoyed water skiing, boating, snowmobiling, and taking
his family camping to Lake Tomahawk in “the bus”. However, his life long passion and
expertise was in Model A Ford cars. He was an expert at restoring Model A Fords and had quite a following of fellow Model A enthusiasts tracking him down for advice or just spend hours talking about their hobby.

He was always “grubbing” the countryside or going to auctions looking for Model A’s or associated parts. You could see him every year at the Iola Car show with his nephew, Tom Hort, selling Model A parts.

Art was a honorary member of the Model A Ford Club of America and was instrumental
in obtaining the land which now houses the local chapter of the club where the annual state wide Model A reunion is held. Art was an active participant in the club events including acting as an auctioneer with his daughter to raise funds for the club.

Art was always busy—whether in his workshop making his own parts or restoring cars, on his tractor “old horse”, or telling stories with those stopping by. Art was a very knowledgeable and amazing man that carried an expectation of perfection in all that his hands touched. Art enjoyed spending time with his family, especially seeing his children and grandsons grow up, and now watching his great grandsons. They were all his pride and joy.

Art will forever be missed by his family and all his friends for his sense of humor, wisdom, and zest for life will also be deeply missed. He is survived by his wife, Dee, his daughter, Chris (Joe) Keller, his son, Randy (Teri) Hoppe, grandsons, Joe (Crystal) Kirschling and Justin Keller, great grandsons, Jackson and Evan Kirschling, and Jonathan and Jase Keller, sisters, Ida Olson (Iola) and Trudy Sloan (Missouri), and one brother, Fred Hoppe (Arkansas), and many nieces and nephews.

Art was preceded in death by his parents, an infant son, sisters, Marge, Virge, Eleanor,
and Bertha, brothers, Chuck and Walter.

At Art’s request, no visitation or funeral services will be held. He will be cremated and
taken to Racine to join his parents and siblings. A special thank you to all the doctors
that were involved in Art’s care including his surgeon, Dr. Kalyanaraman, and Ministry Hospice for all the special care given.