Wilbur Hopes

On Thursday, May 18, 2024, Jack Hopes of Altoona, IA, loving partner and father of three, passed away at the age of forty-three years. Jack leaves behind his partner of thirteen years, Angela Nestico, and their children daughter, Aaliyah, son, Jack, and Jack's oldest son, Kaiden Howell and grandson, Oliver Howell.

He was born Wilbur John Hopes on June 4, 1980, in Decorah, Iowa, to David L. Hopes and Ramona S. [Shipman] Hopes. Jack was baptized into Christian faith as a baby at St. John's Lutheran Church, Corwith, Iowa. He attended Corwith-Wesley-Luverne, CAL-Dows and moved to Perry, IA during his elementary years, attending Perry Community Schools.

Jack will forever be remembered by his nieces and nephews as "Uncle Jerk," he never really grew out of being a kid. His quick wit, hilarious humor, jokester personality, he was always able to light up a room by being the life of the party. People loved him for his ability to turn their frowns upside-down and his infectious smile or devious grin. Family and friends will also remember his deep Bing Crosby singing voice when he would melt you with a melody. He always ended his phone calls with "I love you."

These are a few words of how Jack's friends described him...

He was a funny dude and always had me rolling. You were always there for us and had our backs. You were one of a kind, ride or die, hilarious, resilient, positive, hard- working, and memorable dude. You always treated us like family.

Jack was a resourceful and creative worker. He started working young going door to door for a school fundraiser that didn't exist. Recycling a few bikes led to knowledge in mechanics. There wasn't much he couldn't fix or build. Some may remember his large dirty hands. They were always dirty as he always liked to get down and dirty with his hard work ethics. Jack worked 15 plus years for Two Men and a Truck, briefly for a casket delivery company, and the last year at Firestone. He was a very hard worker and people liked to work with him.

Surviving Jack are his mother, Ramona Shipman, brothers: Nitt Edward Hopes [Robin Bartalos] and Todd Hopes [Cyndi], sisters: Tina Hopes-Lacey [Phil Franksain], Andrea Loux [Cody}, and Laine Noah, nieces and nephews: Gavin Hopes, Blayne and Kerrion Bartalos-Hopes, Annie, Michaela, and Becca Hopes, Sidney Kingery, Cassidy and Brady Ryan, Jayson and Ava Loux, Jaxon, Aleigha , and Hazel Noah. He will also be dearly missed by his many, many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Preceding Jack in death are his father, both maternal grandparents, Wilbur John [Jack] and Aldean Shipman and his paternal grandparents, Edward and Annie Hopes.

Celebration of Life is being planned for a later date. Memorials may be left to the family to help defray medical and funeral expenses.