Gofundme account set up for Laborer’s wife, two young children
By SHERI GASSAWAY
Correspondent
Robert “Robby” Hoke, a member of Laborers’ Local 110, died on the job Aug. 15 leaving behind a wife and two young children.
Hoke, of Robertsville, MO, was working on a bridge repair project at Chouteau Avenue and Interstate 55 when the incident happened, said Don Willey, Local 110 business manager. He was removing a long piece of rebar when it apparently made contact with some power lines.
The 40-year-old husband and father had just joined Local 110 in June and worked for Concrete Strategies, Willey said. Before joining Local 110, Hoke was member of Roofers Local 2 for 16 years.
“We were saddened to hear about it,” said Don Willey, Local 110 business manager. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”
Hoke’s longtime friend Keller McCowen, a member of IOUE Local 513, set up a Gofundme account to help the family with expenses. Contributions can be made at gofund.me/2k57dqc.
“Robby was a big time family man, constantly turning down overtime to spend time with his wife and kids,” McCowen said. “He was the family’s sole breadwinner and was in the process of building a new home. So now they have a mortgage and construction loans and no income.”
Brandon Flinn, Laborers Local 42 business manager, shared the gofundme page on his local’s Facebook page. “We lost a brother Laborer from Local 110 in a tragic job site accident,” Flinn wrote. “Please consider donating to this gofundme account.”
Beth Barton, president of Missouri Women in Trades also shared the gofundme page on her organization’s Facebook page. “We are so sad to hear of our local brother’s death on the job,” she wrote. “Please consider pitching in, everything helps.”
Hoke is survived by his wife Tara and two children Caden, 8, and Chloee, 4. A memorial service was held Aug. 20 at Eaton Funeral Home in Sullivan, MO.