Robert Walter Hoenig

January 12, 1928 - June 17, 2022
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Obituary

Robert W Hoenig was born on January 12, 1928, in East Orange, New Jersey, to Adolphe and Dorothy Hoenig.  He passed from this life on June 17, 2022, with his wife and children at his side.

He was preceded in death by his father and mother and by his younger brother George.

He is survived by his wife Gabriella Hoenig, daughter Vanessa Hoenig and son Walter Hoenig, all of Larado Texas; sister Patricia Harpster (Dale) of Chandler Arizona; cousin Cynthia Hood of Bellingham WA; nephews William (Kay) of Tucson AZ, George (Dora) of Hermosillo Mexico and Fernando (Gabriella) of Buckeye AZ; nieces Jennifer Salazar (Sergio) and Lisa Gonzales (Luis) of Tucson AZ; as well as numerous grand nephews and nieces.

Roberts family, including his mother, father, brother and dog Prince, moved from New Jersey to Los Gatos California in 1938, traveling in a brand new 1938 Ford car.

Robert attended Los Gatos High School, graduating in 1946 at the top of his class.  He then went into business repairing and sharpening surgical instruments, traveling to hospitals in the western part of the United States either by car, or in his pride and joy, his Ercoupe airplane, named “Ol Blue Nose.”  Family legend has it that he flew his mother under the Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco on one of his trips home.

He later moved to Houston Texas, starting a business designing instruments for heart and vascular  surgery, working with Doctors DeBakey and Cooley, the famous heart surgeons.  He would go into the operating room with them to look at surgical techniques and take measurements to create new instruments to assist in their surgeries.

He formed Hoenig instrument Company in Houston, to manufacture these instruments, moving the company to Nuevo Laredo, Mexico in the early 70s.  Some of his instruments are still being used.

He was a brilliant man who liked to invent things.  His first invention was a machine to harvest prunes, which his father laughed at till he saw that it actually worked.

His greatest hobby was mining, from Gold to Tungsten to Cinnabar, with his father and brother George.  His favorite saying was “Wait till the mine comes in.”

Rest in peace Robert, we love you and you will be greatly missed – your loving family, the Hoenigs.

The family will be receiving guests on Thursday, June 23, 2022, at Fred Dickey Funeral & Cremation Services from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Cremation will be held at a late date.

Funeral arrangements are by Fred Dickey Funeral & Cremation Services, 1320 Trey Dr., Laredo, Texas 78041 (956) 723-3611. For your convenience, you may leave your condolences to the family online at www.freddickey.com

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Service Schedule

Visitation Information

Date: Thursday, June 23, 2022

Time: 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Fred Dickey Funeral & Cremation Services

Address:

1320 Trey Dr.
Laredo, Texas 78041

 

Life Event Timeline

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Timeline for Robert Walter Hoenig

Born: January 12, 1928
 
January 1, 1928
Robert with his father Adolphe and grandmother Elizabeth
Robert with his father Adolphe and grandmother Elizabeth
 
January 1, 1929
Robert with his mother Dorothy
Robert with his mother Dorothy
Died: June 17, 2022

Condolences for Robert Walter Hoenig

Fred Dickey Funeral & Cremation Services

Our sincere condolences.

The staff of Fred Dickey Funeral & Cremation Services.

 

Mary Ontiveros posted on 6/23/22

Robert, yo se que ya estás a un costado de nuestro señor. Yo se que él ha estado preparándo tu lugar desde hace tiempo. Fuíste demasiado valiente en soportar tanto sufrimiento nadamás para comprar un poquito más de tiempo para estar con esa linda familia que Dios te dió. Fuíste muy suertudo de haber sido premiado con esa familia que cualquier persona añora tener. Fuíste un gran ejemplo para muchos familiares, amigos, trabajadores y vecinos. Siempre fuíste el mejor en todo lo que hacías. Demostrabas tus sentimientos de una manera muy única porque nunca aprendiste a demostrarlos con sabor latino como tu esposa Gaby. Muchos de nosotros aprendimos a valorar nuestras vidas gracias a ti. Fuíste siempre sincero, honesto y triunfante. Te gustó siempre la buena vida. Te doy gracias por enriqueser nuestras vidas con tu existencia y tu enseñanza. El señor sabía lo que hacía cuando te dió la existencia. Robert, ahora vete tranquilo pues ya hiciste demasiado en este mundo. Tu familia te pide que descanses eternamente, pero que siempre veles por ellos y su futuro. Todos te amamos, respetamos y queremos. Por siempre vivirás en nuestros ❤️. Fuíste un buen esposo, padre, cuñado, hermano y sobre todo el mejor hijo del señor y de tus padres por igual. Hasta muy pronto Padre/Cuñado. Se despide con mucho orgullo tu primera Hija/Cuñada que tuviste. Te deseo lo mejor y que el Señor te bendiga eternamente. TE AMO ❣️ROBERT y jamás te olvidaré. Descanza en paz y que el señor te bendiga eternamente. Sinceramente Mary O.

 

Mary Ontiveros posted on 6/23/22

My most sincere and deepest sympathy. May all of you be blessed during this time of sorrow. Love you!

 

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