Joseph Robert "Bob" Hudson
March 20, 2016
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Service Details
Joseph Robert (Bob) Hudson, of West Des Moines, died in his home at the Lodge of Ashworth, on Sunday, March 20.
Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 30 at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1025 28th Street, West Des Moines, preceded by visitation at 10 a.m. and lunch at 12 p.m.
Bob was born in Schaller, IA on June 3, 1923 to Otis and Josephine Hudson. He graduated from high school in 1940 and attended Iowa State College, until he was drafted at the end of his third year. Following, he served 34 months with the 78th Infantry Division in Germany, during World War II, where he was awarded a Bronze Star and three battle stars.
Bob’s career with the Des Moines Register began in 1946. He retired 38 years later, having served as manager of the Promotion, Classified Advertising, and Circulation departments. He was also vice president of Marketing, a director and senior vice president of strategic planning.
Active in the community, he served on the boards of United Way, Chamber of Commerce, Des Moines Symphony, Des Moines Community Playhouse, Grand View University, Iowa Lutheran Hospital, Lutheran Social Services, Junior Achievement of Des Moines, The Des Moines Club and others.
Those left to cherish his memory include his brother Roger (Sue) Hudson of Des Moines, IA, his sister-in-law Molly Hudson of Ames, IA; two daughters Marcia Brown (Thomas) of West Des Moines, IA; Kimberly Stetson of Ann Arbor, MI; stepson Nelson (Jennifer) Anderson of Lockridge, IA; stepdaughter Kristine (Matthew) Ward of Foristell, MO; six grandchildren Eric and Mark (Chikako) Brown, Kimberly (James) Na, Roger H. (Elizabeth), Matthew (Lindsey) and John (Tarra) Stetson; four step grandchildren Stephanie Ward of Columbia, MO, Nicole Ward of St. Louis, MO, Mitchell Anderson of West Des Moines, IA, and Katelyn Anderson of Lockridge, IA; and eleven great grandchildren Komachi, Tabito, Izumi and Mahito Brown, Rosamund, Theodora and Cyrus Na, Scarlett and Theodore Stetson, and Siena and Roger K. Stetson.
He was preceded in death by infant brother Paul, his parents, his wife of 40 years Norma Grohe, his wife of 14 years Joyce Anderson, his son-in-law Roger T. Stetson and his brother Bruce Hudson.
In lieu of flowers, please direct contributions to Grand View University, the American Cancer Society or Covenant Presbyterian Church.
Online condolences may be expressed at
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.
Dave Witke
03/24/2016
Bob was a true gentleman and a top-flight newspaper executive. For decades he gave wise, reasonable and compassionate counsel to the R&T's owners and top management. In his work, he consistently showed care for and loyalty to four major constituencies: the newspaper itself, the paper's readers and customers, the paper's employees, and the civic community. What more can be asked of a good man and a good citizen? Bob did not work directly in the newsroom, but he was a strong supporter of everything that helped the newsroom do quality work. The Register missed him when he retired; the whole community will miss him now.