Bobbi Jo Hoch

Bobbi Jo Hoch, 51, of Melcher-Dallas, Iowa, passed away at home on February 4,
2026. Visitation will be held Wednesday, February 11th from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. at the
Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Melcher. Mass of Christian Burial will be held
Thursday, February 12th at 10:30 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Interment
will be at the Sacred Heart Cemetery following the service. A luncheon will be held after
the services at the church and a continued time of celebrating Bobbi’s life will be held at
the Dallcher American Legion that afternoon.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Melcher-Dallas Fire and
Rescue or the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Melcher-Dallas.
Bobbi was born to Arnie and Kathy Hoch in Knoxville, IA on April 8, 1974, where her
strong spirit and unforgettable presence were evident from a young age. She graduated
from Melcher-Dallas High School in 1992 and Drake University in 2003 with a
bachelor’s degree in accounting and marketing. Bobbi was employed by Principal
Financial, A.G. Edwards, H&R Block, and worked for John Deere Financial for over 20
years in international financing, retiring in 2024.
Bobbi married Ricardo Avila in 1996, and they welcomed their beautiful children, Elaina
and Noah. In 2009 she began dating her soulmate, Nick Konrad, and they were to be
married on February 7, 2026.
Bobbi and Nick enjoyed riding bicycles all around the country. They participated in
RAGBRAI for several years, and took week-long bike trips through the Florida Keys,
Teton National Park and New York City. In 2016, Bobbi took part in the Fuller Center
Bike Adventure through Louisiana and Mississippi and raised money to end poverty
housing worldwide.
Bobbi was a founding member of BRR Balls, which raised money for charities and
people in the community, a member of the Dallcher Post 632 American Legion Auxiliary,
and a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Bobbi had a vibrant personality, was known for being outspoken, and the life of every
gathering. She was unapologetically authentic, full of sass and attitude. She was
devoted to her family and supported her children for many years during their athletic
and school activities. She deeply loved her children, Nick or “Nicholas” as she called
him, her family, and cherished her five cats.
She is survived by her fiancé, Nick Konrad; daughter, Elaina Avila of Melcher-Dallas, IA;
son, Noah (Kambrie) Avila of Knoxville, IA; and her beloved grandsons, Nolynd and
Lennox. She is also survived by her parents, Arnie and Kathy Hoch; siblings, John (Jill)
Essex and Billie Jo Hoch; nephews Johnnie and Jaye (Azlin) Essex, the Konrad family,
and her many friends and extended family. She was proceeded in death by her
grandparents, Ralph and Guadalupe Schultz of Tucson, AZ and Gilbert and Coletta
Hoch, of Melcher-Dallas, IA.