September 20, 1946 - October 15, 2013
COOPERSTOWN - Robert Carl ("Bob") Hoag, a long-time resident of the Cooperstown area, passed away unexpectedly early Tuesday morning, October 15, 2013, at Chase Memorial Nursing Home in New Berlin. He was 67.
Born September 20, 1946, at the Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, he was a son of Lafayette C. and Gertrude (Eggleston) Hoag. Raised in Cooperstown, he graduated from Cooperstown High School with the Class of 1967.
On July 13, 1967, Bob was inducted into the United States Army, and proudly served his country during the Vietnam War with Company C, 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry, 2nd Armored Division. He was awarded a Vietnam Service Medal with 4 Bronze Service Stars, a Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, a National Defense Service Medal and a Combat Infantryman Badge. On July 11, 1969, he received his Honorable Discharge from the military, and was Honorably Discharged from the Reserves in 1973.
Shortly after returning to Cooperstown from his time in the service, Bob became employed at the Victory Market and later the Great American, where he served for many years as a stock clerk.
An avid outdoorsman, Bob enjoyed camping and hunting, as well as travelling. He always enjoyed taking rides in the car, and came to know all the back roads in the area. His true love was trains, with his enjoyment extending from model railroading and the many layouts he created, to volunteering with the Leatherstocking Railway Historical Society as a traffic and crossing guard on the Cooperstown and Charlotte Valley Railroad.
Bob is survived by his wife, the former Leona Seward; their two daughters, Jennifer and Jessica; three stepsons, Mike Smith and son, Brett, Shawn Smith & son, Alex, and Patrick Smith and son, Keegan; three grandsons, Isaiah Hoag, Nathanial Juhl, and Donald Holden; two brothers, Donald Hoag and his wife, Barbara, of the Town of Maryland, and Richard Hoag and his wife, Barbara, of Middlefield; two sisters-in-law, Dawn Hoag of Milford and Kathryn Hoag of Bridgewater; and many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and great great nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his wife's siblings, Marge Hill and her fiancé, Phil, of Red Creek, John Seward and his wife, Hortencia, of California, and Senator James L. Seward and his wife, Cindy, of Milford.
Bob was preceded in death by his mother, Gertrude, who died January 24, 1979; his father, Lafayette, who died September 21, 2002; three brothers, Charles F. Hoag, who died July 31, 1989, Lafayette A. "Bud" Hoag, who died May 23, 2009, and Douglas B. Hoag, who died June 19, 2012; a granddaughter, Alyssa Hoag, who died in 2006; a nephew, James Hoag, who died in 1990; and an uncle, William Carvin.
Family and friends are invited to call and pay their respects at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown, from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, October 18, 2013.
A Funeral Service will be offered at the funeral home at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 19, 2013, with the Rev. Ronald Fralick officiating.
Following cremation, Bob will be laid to rest at a later date in the Milford Cemetery. At that time, Military Honors will be accorded by members of the New York State Military Forces Honor Guard.
Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers at (607) 547-8822, or A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.
