Michael Earl Hoobler, 84, of Moscow, died Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at his home of natural causes. He was born the eldest of three to Louse Sarah Hoobler (Scow) and Bobbie F. Hoobler in Boise on Dec. 31, 1939.
Mike attended elementary school in Stibnite, Idaho, now a ghost town, where his father worked for a tungsten and antimony mining company that supplied the minerals to the government to aid in the war effort during World War II. In 1950, the mine was closed and the family moved to Boise where Mike finished school. In 1957, he followed two friends and joined the National Guard, for six months. When he came home, his family had moved across the street from his future wife, Peggy. Four years later they were married in the Idaho Falls Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This May they would have been married 62 years.
In 1963, Mike started school at Boise Junior College. In 1964, they moved to Pocatello to finish his bachelor’s degree at Idaho State University. During his senior year his son, Bobbie, was born. Four years later, his daughter, Jennifer, was born.
Mike was always an avid bowler. The following is an excerpt from an article written about Mike when he was inducted into the Idaho Bowling Council Hall of Fame, for both performance and meritorious service categories:
“Mike began his bowling career and love the sport at the age of 11, when he started setting pins in Stibnite, Idaho. He then moved to Boise and continued as a pinsetter of 20th Century Lanes and the Boise Bowling Center. As a youth he had the honor of bowling the first 300 game in 19 years at the Boise Bowling Center. Mike continued his bowling while attending college, at Idaho State University, participating in many city tournaments. Mike was very active in the Idaho Scratch Bowling Association, winning five titles, including a Grand Final. Mike started a tournament called the Sole Survivor which was very successful, and managed to win two of them. In 1976, Mike took over the bowling center at Washington State University, and during his 27 years there he coached the men’s and women’s bowling which participated in 17 National Championships, winning many titles.
Mike has many bowling achievements for his bowling ability, but was more proud of all of the accomplishments of the students he coached.”
Mike won Idaho State Doubles Tournament, the All Around Scratch Championship, and many other Tournaments through the years. Mike was inducted into the Idaho Scratch Bowling Association Hall of Fame, and the Palouse Regional Bowling Association Hall of Fame. He was a collegiate representative of the Young American Bowling Alliance and a member of the National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association.
In 1974, Mike and his family moved to Moscow to manage the Bowlarama. In 1976, he accepted the job of manager of the Games Area at Washington State University and began coaching the Men’s and Women’s Bowling Teams until he retired in 2003. He considered everyone who bowled or worked for him, his family and he loved all his family very much.
Mike is survived by his wife Peggy, and his son Bobbie, both of Moscow; his grandchildren: Stephan Hoobler (Blair), of Vancouver, Wash., Torree Heisler (Tyson), of Missoula, Mont. and Emelyn Hoobler, of Moscow; great-grandchildren: Jase, Mila, Nora Jo, Kole, Brooklyn, Tiara and Mayliegh; his sisters, Sherry Kauffman, and Linnie Wilder, both of Meridian, Idaho, and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Louise and Bobbie Hoobler; daughter Jennifer Knoke; and granddaughter Sheighle Hoobler.
Mike’s Memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 11, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Chapel, 1657 Blaine St., Moscow. Please come and share memories of Mike with us.
Short’s Funeral Chapel of Moscow is in charge of arrangements and condolences may be left at shortsfuneralchapel.com.
