As received from the O’Neill-Dennis Funeral Home. If you have questions about, or potential corrections to the content, please contact the funeral home directly.
Ruben Roy Hoyer, 87, of Hancock, entered eternal life on July 18, 2026 at PortagePointe in Hancock after a prolonged illness.
He was born in Hancock on December 2, 1938 to the late Ruben W. and Ida Marie (Roy) Hoyer and was raised in Hancock. Following graduation from Hancock High School in 1956, he went on to attend Michigan Tech University earning a BS Degree in Physics in 1960 and later earned his BS Degree in Secondary Education in 1961 from Northern Michigan University. He earned a Masters Degree in Physics in 1966 from the University of Detroit and then a PhD in 1972 from the University of Hawaii in Oceanography.
He was an associate professor of Physics at the Pennsylvania College of Technology, and later taught at several Copper Country Schools as well as Suomi College and Michigan Tech.
Reuben is survived by his sister, Lois Hannula of Marquette; a niece, Jennifer (Jeff) King of Kincheloe, MI; a nephew Kevin (Melissa Hanell) Hannula of Bloomington, IN; 5 great-nieces: Courtney (Kennet Fosuhene) Hannula, Stephanie (Austin Keppel) King, Anna (Juan) Hernandez, and Elizabeth (Michael Griffiths) King; 3 great-nephews: Oliver (Vanessa Esquer) Hannell, Adam (Mikayla Muzii) Hannula, and Malachi Hannula; 2 great-grand nephews: Zeno Hanell and Armando Hernandez; and by several cousins. Besides his parents, he was also preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Harry Hannula and several aunts, uncles, and other cousins.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, July 28, 2026 at the Church of the Resurrection in Hancock with Reverend Father Corey Litzner to officiate. Burial will be at Forest Hill Cemetery in Houghton. Friends may call at the church for an hour before services.
Thank you to the staff at PortagePointe for their loving care of Ruben during his time there. We would like to give a special thank you to cousin Bernie Roy for being a faithful friend and supporter to Ruben throughout the years. We would also like to thank his neighbors, Don and Carol Carli for being so kind and helpful to him.
The O’Neill-Dennis Funeral home in Hancock is assisting with the arrangements. To leave online condolences, please go to www.oneilldennisfh.com.
In lieu of flowers please consider memorials to the Church of the Resurrection or Saint Vincent DePaul in Hancock in the name of Ruben Hoyer.
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