Jack Bobier

Jack Bobier

South Sioux City

Jack Bobier, 86, of South Sioux City passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 3, 2022, with his family by his side.

Services will be at 10 a.m. on Friday at the First Lutheran Church in South Sioux City. Following the funeral service, a luncheon will be held at the Church and then a private family burial in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation with the family present will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today with a prayer service at 6 p.m. all at the Church. The Mohr & Becker-Hunt Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Jack and his twin sister, Jacquolin, were born July 7, 1935, to Donald and Luella (Goldsmith) Bobier in South Sioux City. As a boy, Jack was a mischievous rascal with a creative mind and a tireless work ethic. His eclectic interests included raising homing pigeons, playing football, and working at the South Sioux City Star. Jack graduated from South Sioux City High School in 1953. Shortly thereafter, he happened to glimpse Shirley Clayton sunbathing in a red swimsuit, and he begged her sister, Beverly, to set them up on a blind date. The rest, as they say, is history. Jack and Shirley were married on July 17, 1954, at St. Boniface Church in Sioux City.

Over the course of their nearly 68-year marriage, Jack and Shirley built an enduring partnership based on unconditional love, laughter, and friendship. The couple had two daughters, Pamela (Siefken) and Kelly (Burch), and their home was always full of neighborhood kids, family, and friends. Over the decades, Jack and Shirley hosted hundreds of holiday parties and family dinners. Jack always made sure his guests had the time of their lives; his legendary Fourth of July pool parties featured extravagant fireworks, bottomless margaritas, and hours of conversation.

Jack played hard, but he worked even harder. At the age of 13, he was hired to sweep floors at the South Sioux City Star. Jack was quickly promoted up the ranks until he was setting type, selling advertising, and taking photographs for the newspaper. Jack was a perpetual entrepreneur with a creative mind and a dogged work ethic, so it was inevitable that he would start his own business. In 1967, Jack and Shirley opened Bobier Studio on Dakota Avenue. Over the next 30 years, Jack photographed thousands of people, and his portraits still hang prominently in homes throughout Siouxland. Jack was also active in local government; he was elected to serve as both a County Commissioner and South Sioux City Councilman.

Jack was a brilliant handyman who could fix anything, and he taught these skills to his friends and family. To this day, Jack's daughters rip out carpet, his nephews rebuild car engines, and his granddaughters back up boat trailers without batting an eye. Jack wasn't just handy to have around the house; he was also a true Renaissance man who loved to create art. His eclectic sensibilities led him to experiment with stained glass, macrame, and oil paints. Jack also created his own hilarious, bawdy greeting cards that he would mail to friends and family. Jack never lost his impish sense of humor, and his cards inevitably led to side-splitting laughter. But Jack's greatest masterpiece was undoubtedly his annual Christmas light display. Each year, the Bobier house was lit up in an exuberant exhibition that put Clark Griswold to shame. And, true to form, family and friends flocked to the house to marvel at the lights, have a party, and spend time together.

Jack was a one-of-a-kind man whose memory will be honored by friends and family for decades to come.

He is survived by his wife and soulmate of nearly 68 years, Shirley; daughters Pamela (Carl) Siefken and Kelly (William) Burch; granddaughters Sarah (Jordan) Siefken-Perez and Megan Siefken; sisters Jacquolin (John) Patterson and Sharon (Theodore) Oehlerking; and brother John (Gloria) Bobier.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and sister, Donna Bobier.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family.