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ABOUT US

Our History

On June 1, 1963, the inception of Hoch Funeral Home in Nebraska began when Robert and Marlene Hoch of Scotland, South Dakota, purchased the Huston Funeral Home in Bassett from Bob, Doris and Ruth Huston. In 1969, they partnered with the Wisda Funeral Home in downtown Ainsworth. On January 1, 1972, Robert and Marlene purchased the Ainsworth business from Gordon and Shirley Wisda. A new funeral home was built in 1973 on Highway 20, located on the east edge of Ainsworth.

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Robert C. Hoch, a Tyndall, South Dakota native, was born on May 28, 1930 to Joseph and Anna (Zolnowski) Hoch in Yankton, South Dakota. He graduated from Tyndall High School in 1948. Bob served in the United States Army from 1948 to 1951. He attended college in Springfield, South Dakota before attending the University of Minnesota where he obtained a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Mortuary Science in 1956. He was united in marriage to Marlene H. Schneider, also of Tyndall, on August 22, 1957. Marlene was born to Frank and Helen (Herman) Schneider on November 20, 1933 at Wagner, South Dakota. She was also a Tyndall High School graduate. After high school, Marlene attended college at Sacred Heart Nursing School in Yankton and later was a telephone operator before her marriage to Bob. In her married life, she worked alongside Bob with the many different

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To Bob and Marlene's union, three children were born: Julie H. in 1958, Jacqueline A. in 1962 and James J. in 1963. Julie and her husband, Bruce Iacobelli live in Scottsdale, Arizona. Jaci lives in Omaha, Nebraska. Jim graduated from Rock County High School at Bassett in 1981. He attended Wayne State and Kearney State Colleges in Nebraska, before graduating from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Mortuary Science in 1987. He returned to Nebraska in October of 1987 to work in his parent's business. In 1988, Jim married Ann M. Fox (1961) of Sheldon, Iowa and they have made their home in Ainsworth. Ann graduated from Sheldon (IA) High School in 1979.

She obtained her Bachelor's of Arts Degree in Physical Education from the University of Northern Iowa in 1983. She taught in the Bassett Grade School system for 18 years, before taking a fifth grade teaching position at the Ainsworth Community Schools in 2000. To this union two children were born: Reilly J. (1991) who is presently attending college in Lincoln, Nebraska and Haley A. (1995) who is presently a senior at Ainsworth High School.


Bob passed away on February 13, 2000, and Marlene passed away on December 2, 2008. Jim and Ann became the sole owners in December of 2010 and continue the business operations. Hoch Funeral Homes, Inc. and staff members have sincerely appreciated the opportunity of serving the many families since 1963. We look forward to providing that same quality service and care with compassion for many years to come. In June of 2013, we observed and honored the past 50 years of funeral service to the Sandhills area. 

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