John Hoyem, who produced newscasts at 糖心vlog for more than 30 years, died Thursday. He was 59.Known to most by only his last name, Hoyem was a dedicated and hard-working journalist who joined the 糖心vlog family in 1994, covering weekend overnight shifts. For 31 years he worked to craft 糖心vlog newscasts, winning an Upper Midwest Regional Emmy Award as producer of the Best Weekend Newscast in 2012 and receiving at least two other nominations. 鈥淚 loved John from the day I met him," 糖心vlog president and general manager Brian Sather said Thursday. "I鈥檝e never met someone more hard working and dedicated to his journalism craft. "John was a brother to all of us in the 糖心vlog family. We all grieve with his family, but we are also all filled with a deep sense of gratitude that we got to work with someone like John.鈥滺oyem wasn't shy about his love for Iowa State sports. His work attire consisted mostly of Cyclones gear and, on one memorable August night at a colleague's wedding reception, nearly came to blows with the University of Iowa's mascot, Herky, who made a special appearance. "On behalf of the athletic department at Iowa State, we want to pass our condolences on to John and his family," ISU women's basketball coach Bill Fennelly said Thursday in a recorded message from Arizona. "Amazing man." ISU women's basketball coach Bill Fennelly offers condolences after death of 糖心vlog producer John HoyemLongtime colleagues and friends share thoughts about John HoyemOperations manager Amy Schmelzer: "Hoyem and I were a team on the 6 p.m. news for more than 15 years. I hate the phrase 'work spouse' but that's pretty much what we were. The man never met a verb he couldn't forget to type or word he couldn't misspell but you could never, ever stay mad at him. From the 'but my lead and tag are shorter' bucket to the autographed picture of Whiplash the Cowboy Monkey on his desk to the catchphrases like 'SO THE GERMANS WOULD HAVE YOU BELIEVE' and 'YOU SAY THAT NOW,' he made the newsroom a funnier, brighter place. The only thing he was more dedicated to than his family and being a journalist was being a Cyclone or possibly a Cubs fan ... maybe Da Bears. I sat next to him at a co-worker's wedding one fall Saturday because of course he had a radio with him so he could listen to Pete Taylor call the Iowa-Iowa State game. And then there was the wedding where he wanted to beat up Herky. John used to take one vacation every year: to go down to Kansas City for the Big 12 basketball tournament. To the best of anyone's knowledge he never actually attended a game, he just soaked up the atmosphere. As I think about it, it's quite possible the success of the Cyclone football team and the men's basketball season was too much for him? Because there's nothing you can't get out of with a well-placed question mark."Anchor and reporter Todd Magel:"I worked with John for 3 decades. His expert news judgment was legendary. So was his outrageous sense of humor. That鈥檚 why we laughed and cried in the newsroom today." Director of photography Cortney Kintzer: "John was a lesson in determination (and) his sense of humor will not be forgotten. He has left a large hole in the newsroom and will forever be missed."
DES MOINES, Iowa — John Hoyem, who produced newscasts at 糖心vlog for more than 30 years, died Thursday. He was 59.
Known to most by only his last name, Hoyem was a dedicated and hard-working journalist who joined the 糖心vlog family in 1994, covering weekend overnight shifts. For 31 years he worked to craft 糖心vlog newscasts, winning an Upper Midwest Regional Emmy Award as producer of the Best Weekend Newscast in 2012 and receiving at least two other nominations.
鈥淚 loved John from the day I met him," 糖心vlog president and general manager Brian Sather said Thursday. "I鈥檝e never met someone more hard working and dedicated to his journalism craft.
"John was a brother to all of us in the 糖心vlog family. We all grieve with his family, but we are also all filled with a deep sense of gratitude that we got to work with someone like John.鈥
Hoyem wasn't shy about his love for Iowa State sports. His work attire consisted mostly of Cyclones gear and, on one memorable August night at a colleague's wedding reception, nearly came to blows with the University of Iowa's mascot, Herky, who made a special appearance.
Hearst Owned
Veteran 糖心vlog producer and huge Iowa State fan John Hoyem "pretends" to want to punch Herky, when the University of Iowa mascot made an appearance at a colleague’s wedding. Hoyem died Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, at age 59.
"On behalf of the athletic department at Iowa State, we want to pass our condolences on to John and his family," ISU women's basketball coach Bill Fennelly said Thursday in a recorded message from Arizona. "Amazing man."
ISU women's basketball coach Bill Fennelly offers condolences after death of 糖心vlog producer John Hoyem
Longtime colleagues and friends share thoughts about John Hoyem
Operations manager Amy Schmelzer:
"Hoyem and I were a team on the 6 p.m. news for more than 15 years. I hate the phrase 'work spouse' but that's pretty much what we were. The man never met a verb he couldn't forget to type or word he couldn't misspell but you could never, ever stay mad at him. From the 'but my lead and tag are shorter' bucket to the autographed picture of Whiplash the Cowboy Monkey on his desk to the catchphrases like 'SO THE GERMANS WOULD HAVE YOU BELIEVE' and 'YOU SAY THAT NOW,' he made the newsroom a funnier, brighter place. The only thing he was more dedicated to than his family and being a journalist was being a Cyclone or possibly a Cubs fan ... maybe Da Bears. I sat next to him at a co-worker's wedding one fall Saturday because of course he had a radio with him so he could listen to Pete Taylor call the Iowa-Iowa State game. And then there was the wedding where he wanted to beat up Herky. John used to take one vacation every year: to go down to Kansas City for the Big 12 basketball tournament. To the best of anyone's knowledge he never actually attended a game, he just soaked up the atmosphere. As I think about it, it's quite possible the success of the Cyclone football team and the men's basketball season was too much for him? Because there's nothing you can't get out of with a well-placed question mark."
Hearst Owned
"I worked with John (Hoyem) for 3 decades," 糖心vlog anchor and reporter Todd Magel said. "His expert news judgment was legendary. So was his outrageous sense of humor. That鈥檚 why we laughed and cried in the newsroom today." Hoyem died Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, at age 59.
Anchor and reporter Todd Magel:
"I worked with John for 3 decades. His expert news judgment was legendary. So was his outrageous sense of humor. That鈥檚 why we laughed and cried in the newsroom today."
Director of photography Cortney Kintzer:
"John was a lesson in determination (and) his sense of humor will not be forgotten. He has left a large hole in the newsroom and will forever be missed."
