Bob Hoppe, longtime owner of Perkins Manufacturing, Dies at 80

Robert (Bob) G. Hoppe, the longtime chairman and owner of Romeoville, Ill.-based Perkins Manufacturing, died on Dec. 25, 2009. He was 80.

In 1970, Hoppe acquired Stanton Equipment, a La Grange, Ill.-based equipment distributor. Five years later, he purchased Perkins. Hoppe conceived the firm’s TuckAway residential cart tipper. He held a seat on the firm’s Board of Directors until five years ago, and his three children will continue to serve on the board.

Survivors include his wife, Julianna; his daughters, Cheryl Waite and Julie Schneider; his son, Robert Hoppe; his grandchildren, Alicia Waite and Kristin Schneider; and his sister, Georgene Norris. Messages of condolence may be left for the family at www.davenportfamily.com.