HOEFER, Robert and Marilyn

Photo courtesy: Telegraph Herald

HOEFER, Robert and Marilyn. Both Robert and Marilyn grew up near Farley. Robert graduated from St. Joseph High School, while Marilyn's family moved to Dubuque when she was twelve and she graduated from DUBUQUE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL. Both recall a close sense of community during their early rural lives--neighbors helping neighbors and an emphasis on family. It was their sense of selfless community service that led them to being named the recipients of the 2017 FIRST CITIZEN AWARD from the Telegraph Herald.

In 1964 Robert, with a degree in computers, was the thirteenth person employed at Dupaco (later DUPACO COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION. He worked as a loan officer, collector, marketer, relationship builder and assistant manager. In 1972, at the age of twenty-seven, he became the president and CEO. While the early years at the credit union were times of growth, the 1980s brought hard times to Dubuque. The credit union helped many people by reducing or forgiving payments. With the closing of the DUBUQUE PACKING COMPANY, Dupaco opened its membership to any person living or working in Dubuque, Jackson and Delaware counties. Hoefer remembered Dupaco becoming one of the first community credit unions in the state being recognized for being community oriented.

Hoefer was named the Iowa Credit Union Executive Society (CUES) Council Manager of the Year in 1985. He held offices in the Northeast Iowa Chapter of Credit Unions, served eleven years as its Legislative Forum Representative and was chairman of the Iowa CUPAC Trustees. Elected to the Iowa Credit Union League Board of Directors in 1987, Hoefer served on its executive committee and as chairman of legislative, member services, new product and services committees. He was also a member of the board of directors of the Iowa Corporate Central Credit Union.

In 2012 Hoefer retired from Dupaco. During his 47 years with the company, Dupaco grew from a $2.8 million, single-sponsor credit union to a $1.03 billion community credit union with 65,000 members worldwide.

Marilyn Hoefer moved away from her career as an obstetrics nurse at MERCY MEDICAL CENTER to raise their family. Her activism in the community continued through Mercy Service Club, COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER DUBUQUE, Stonehill Franciscan Foundation Board, Luther Manor Foundation Board and the Steeple Square Campaign Committee.

Upon Robert's retirement, they supported the creation of the Dupaco Robert W. Hoefer Foundation funded by contributions from credit union members and employees. While the credit union offered generous support to capital improvement projects in the community, it could not help individuals. The foundation filled this gap. Since its creation through 2017, the foundation offered nearly 500 individuals such assistance as scholarships, empowerment grants and matched savings. The foundation also partnered with multiple nonprofits such as OPENING DOORS and FOUR MOUNDS.

The couple has also been active in the capital compaigns of CLARKE UNIVERSITY, HILLS & DALES CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER, TRI-STATE INDEPENDENT BLIND SOCIETY, ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER CATHOLIC CHURCH, and Camp Albrecht Acres. Robert's civic activities included participation in the work of JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF THE HEARTLAND, DUBUQUE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Clarke College Development Council, GREATER DUBUQUE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, WAHLERT CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL.

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Source:

Montgomery, Jeff. "Faith, Community Guide the Hoefers," Telegraph Herald, January 1, 2018, p. 1A