Hobart "Hobie" G Henning

March 31, 1958 - July 14, 2015

Funeral services for HOBART G "HOBIE" HENNING, 57, will be held at 10am Saturday, July 18, 2015 at the Lingle Community Presbyterian Church with Pastor Rick Carroll and Reverend Vickie Kintzel officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in the Hillcrest Cemetery. A memorial has been established to the family. Visitation will be Friday at the funeral home from 3pm to 5pm and the casket will be closed at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of the Colyer Funeral Home and friends may send condolences to the family at www.colyerfuneralhome.com. Hobart Henning passed on July 14, 2015 after a year-long battle with stage 4 colon cancer. He was born on March 31, 1958 to Frank D. and Lauraine M. (Anderson) Henning in Torrington, Wyoming. Hobart was raised on the forty acre homestead on East Highway 26. He learned at an early age the value of a hard day's labor and putting your back into the task at hand. Hobart graduated from Torrington High School in December 1975 and at 17 years old he enlisted in the United States Navy, following in his father's and older brothers' footsteps. While in the Navy, he was stationed on the USS Nimitz CVN-68 along with almost six thousand other crew members. Hobie made many life-long friendships during his four years of duty. After his dedicated Navy service, he returned to Goshen County in 1980 and went to work for Pete Nelson at the Lingle Elevator. Needing his own transportation, Hobie bought the second-to-last full size Jeep pickup sold new at Valley Merc in Torrington. And so began his ever expanding collection of many more Jeeps of every style, year, make, model, and color. After a chance encounter in the Kelly's grocery store parking lot, Hobie eventually purchased the very last full size Jeep pickup sold new at Valley Merc. Through Pete Nelson at the Elevator, Hobie learned of the Ed Greenwald place for rent a few miles west of Lingle and moved into the house in January 1981. Hobie had a true affection and valued friendship with the four generations of Greenwalds whom he rented the place from. He remained there on London Flats throughout his life. He was always available and glad to help any of his neighbors with any projects that needed done. This included towing a stuck Semi and fully loaded trailer of hay with one of his Jeep Wagoneers. Hobie was a very skilled carpenter, mechanic, and all around handyman and got much pleasure out of being able to help others. Hobie always tried to find humor in most all situations and was very quick and witty. He was very smart with an incredible memory. Hobie married Dianna Koeteman on December 17, 1985 and embraced the role of father to her daughter, Nikki, and son, Jerrod. Though Hobie and Diane later divorced, they remained strongly attached as a family and as friends. Hobie once again realized a life's dream when he got hired in 1995 and began his career with BNSF RR, following his dad's and Pappy's years as engineers for Union Pacific RR. Hobie traveled many miles throughout Wyoming, Nebraska, and Colorado and gained new friends through the long hours of keeping the rails smooth and the trains running. He is a proud member of Local 1142 the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees, Guernsey, Wyoming. Hobie very much valued his RR brothers and sisters. Hobie loved hunting and being outdoors and was a member and ardent supporter of the NRA. He also donated to and enjoyed following the Wheatland Boxing Club. Hobie flew to Washington DC this past March to visit his nephew, 1st SG Michael Johnson and tour our nation's memorials and history. Mike called and told Hobie to bring dressy clothes for a very special museum that he had gotten security clearance to tour. The special museum was actually the White House and Hobie got to tour it on his 57th birthday, March 31st. Hobie and Mike went all over touring Arlington Cemetery, the Vietnam Wall, the WWII memorial, Lincoln and Washington memorials. Mike surprised Hobie with the early July delivery of a hardcover book of a collection of photos from their trip. Hobie took great pride i his country and enjoyed sharing the book with his visitors these last few days. Hobie was preceded in death by his father in 1984, his mother in 1998, and his granddaughter, Destiny Dawn Koeteman in 2011. Hobie is survived by his daughter Nikki Norton, husband Mike, and children Chad, Kayleigh, Trevor, and Natalee of Lingle, WY.; his son Jerrod Koeteman, wife Ashley, and daughter Madison of Torrington, WY.; his ex-wife and friend, Dianna Koeteman of Lyman, NE.; his five sisters, Phyllis Henning of Thermopolis, WY.; Susan Ragland of Douglas, WY.; Billie Redus, husband Freddie, of Seguin, TX.; Carol Slagle, husband Ernie, of Kirby, WY.; Laura Lee Nash, husband Gary, of Worland, WY.; his five brothers, Chuck Johnson , wife Margurette, of North Platte, NE.; Frank Henning, wife Teri, of Thermopolis, WY.; Johnny Johnson, wife Verlanne, of Highland Village, Tx.; Jim Henning, wife JoEllen, of Gillette, WY.; Ed Henning, wife Mary, of Worland, WY.; and his aunt Carol Wightman of Gering, NE. He also leaves numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. We will all greatly miss Hobie; a wonderful man. When you are missing Hobie's weekly phone call, pick up YOUR phone and call someone.