ShawneeDispatch.com

Albert Hoelting was of the "old school" -- he knew the value of hard work, and in Shawnee, his hard work led to the growth of the city.

Hoelting, 91, a longtime Shawnee builder and developer, died Wednesday, March 1, 2006. He was a family man, a deep thinker and a hard worker, and his family and friends remember him as someone who made them proud.

Hoelting was born March 24, 1914, into a farming family of 12 in Old Monroe, Mo., to George and Rose Hoelting.

"He came from nothing, literally," said David Hoelting, one of eight sons. "I can remember dad telling us stories of when he went to parties or something in town, he couldn't buy a Coke or something for his date. And we'd say, ‘Why couldn't you buy a Coke, Dad?' and he'd say, ‘Because you didn't have the nickel.'"

David Hoelting said his father left the small town in Missouri at age 27 because it was a farming community and there wasn't any work. He found a job at the Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant in De Soto for two years before coming to Shawnee to eventually start his construction business.

Hoelting worked a few other jobs for a while, but he found he had a talent for building homes out of his own necessity.

"He got into the building business by starting to build houses for himself," David Hoelting said.

David Hoelting said his father liked Shawnee; he saw a lot of potential in the city and stayed because the growing community provided plenty of building opportunities. He soon began developing entire neighborhoods; Homestead Estates near 75th and Nieman was one of the first.

Hoelting and his sons went on to build several Hoelting Family Neighborhoods in Shawnee, including Crosse Pointe, Maurer Woods, Crystal Park, Crystal Place and Lakeview Estates.

David Hoelting said his father also started buying up property around Shawnee and elsewhere in the county because "he saw that there was money to be made in land sale just as there was in building."

"Whenever he had a dime, he tried to buy some property with it," David Hoelting said.

Buying property also allowed Hoelting to stay close to his farming roots. After he had started his family, which grew to 11 children, he put some money together and bought 180 acres south of Stanley, Kan., so he could work the land.

"He bought that and farmed that for a while because he had it in his blood," David Hoelting said.

Albert Hoelting also grew close to the community through his building. One of his good friends was the late John Bichelmeyer, for whom he built a home, and he also worked with Shawnee families like the VanLerbergs, Pflumms and Riekes.

David Hoelting said his father was more of a deep thinker than a jokester, and until his later years, he could more often be found out in the yard than laying around the house.

"He was a hard worker; that basically was his hobby," David Hoelting said. "Dad was of the old school... he just knew one day we were going through another recession or depression, so he just worked hard to make sure he could handle it the next time."

He did manage to break way from work now and then; he became a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church as soon as he moved to Shawnee and was a member of the Knights of Columbus for several years. He was also a past member of the Greater Kansas City Home Builders Association and a charter member and on the board of directors at Citizens State Bank.

He also found more time in his later years to have fun with his family, and David Hoelting said his father really enjoyed his 35 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren -- although he kept with his work ethic so much that he didn't fully retire until about 15 years ago.

"I think he's had more fun with his great-grandchildren than his grandchildren because he was so busy," David Hoelting said. "... He didn't like to sit around; he didn't watch TV until he was retired. He was just going all the time."

And Albert Hoelting's hard work has left a legacy in Shawnee that isn't likely to be matched.

"We were very proud of him," David Hoelting said. "He did right by his family."

His obituary follows:

Albert F. Hoelting

1914-2006

Shawnee

Albert Hoelting, 91, a longtime Shawnee builder and developer, died on Ash Wednesday, March 1, 2006. Mass of Resurrection was. Monday at St. Joseph Catholic Church with burial at Resurrection Cemetery. Visitation and a rosary were Sunday at the church. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Advice and Aid Pregnancy Center, 11031 West 75th Terr., Shawnee KS 66214. (913)962-0200.

Mr. Hoelting was born on March 24, 1914, in Old Monroe, Mo., to George J. and Rose A. Hoelting. He was a developer and builder of fine homes in the Johnson County area. He and his sons developed many Hoelting Family Neighborhoods and other projects that helped shape Shawnee.

He was a longtime member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, a member of the Knights of Columbus, past member of the Greater Kansas City Home Builders Association, charter member and on the board of directors for Citizens State Bank.

He took great pride in having a large family of sons, daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren that surrounded him with love and affection.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Alice, and a grandson, Jason Starnes.

Mr. Hoelting is survived by three daughters, Karen Starnes, Shawnee; JoAnn Hoelting, Lenexa; and Barbara Mann, Shawnee; eight sons, Albert Hoelting, Basehor; David Hoelting, Shawnee; Richard Hoelting, Shawnee; Tim Hoelting, Olathe; Mark Hoelting, Shawnee; Michael Hoelting, Shawnee; Robert Hoelting, Shawnee; and Ken Hoelting, Shawnee; 35 grandchildren and 37 great grandchildren.

He also leaves a large family of brothers and sisters. Survivors include: Arthur, Old Monroe, Mo.; Delores, St. Peters, Mo.; Jim, Old Monroe, Mo.; Vernon, St. Peters, Mo.; Arvilla, Old Monroe, Mo.; and Connie, St. Charles, Mo.

Condolences may be expressed at www.amosfamily.com. Arrangements: Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee (913) 631-5566.