Obituary for Dennis Daniel Hohn

Dennis Daniel Hohn, age 82, went to his heavenly reward on July 21, 2025, at home in Stuart surrounded by his family. A celebration of life was held, Tuesday, August 5^, 2025. Mass was led by Rev. Anthony Mathew and Fr. Ray Higgins. Kathy Moon and Sharon Swartz provided music at All Saints Catholic Church, Stuart, Iowa. A luncheon hosted by the Altar and Rosary Society followed in the church hall.  

Pallbearers were Brandon, Collin and Keenan Volz. Honorary Pallbearers were Gene Huddleson, Kenny Strassburg, Dennis Craig, Nathan Hohn, Dick Smith and Fred Fandler. Gift Bearers were Katie Tonsager and Erica Block. Denny was honored by the Stuart Fire Department, with several officers attending services, an American flag draped from Stuart Fire Ladder 23 and Fire Station lighting up their trucks to honor his service to the community. Family was escorted to the cemetery by Fire Chief Stephen Martinson. Dennis was interned at Iowa Veterans Cemetery with full military honors by Officers from Offutt Airforce Base and the American Legion (Van Meter) with Mark Tisl playing Taps.

Dennis (Denny) was born July 18, 1943, in Shawano, Wisconsin, to Daniel and Fern (Hecker) Hohn. He was raised on the family dairy farm and graduated from Bowler High School where he was active in FFA and played trombone in the band. At age 18 he joined the Air Force and went through basic training at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas and was stationed at Offutt Air Force base in Omaha, Nebraska as Airmen First Class. Dennis was active during the Cuba Missile Crisis. Throughout his career in the Air Force, he worked at the Stock Yards in Omaha.

Denny met his wife while stationed in Omaha and on October 8, 1965, he married Patricia Ann Casey. To this marriage two daughters were born, Donna Marie and Debra Jean.  Denny and Pat started their married life in Gresham, Wisconsin. They moved after a couple of years to Hartford, Wisconsin when Denny began working for Midland Co-op. He was promoted to Manager, which entailed a move to Rock, Michigan. Here Denny and Pat enjoyed the long winter and bought their first snowmobile. One snowy night they were out riding with friends and Denny arrived in town without Pat on the back end; they promptly went out and bought a second snowmobile the next day.

1971 found them with a transfer to Buffalo Center, Iowa where Denny continued to manage the Midland Co-op; here they began to bowl, introducing other couples to the sport. Denny began his God-given career as a Sales Rep with Iowa Mold and Tooling in Garner, Iowa in 1972.

In Garner, Denny successfully led the Neighborhood Committee to keep unhealthy industry out of the middle of town. In 1981 Denny, Pat and family moved to Stuart, Iowa, and opened Denny’s Tire Service, operating it until 2004 (now Kinzie Tire Service). The ‘Shop’ taught Denny a new level of long hours and hard work. For 23 years, he worked tirelessly providing 24-hour service to the community, farmers and interstate traffic. In his 44 years living in Stuart, Denny was a member of All Saints Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus and active in the Stuart Service Club, American Legion, Iowa Tire Dealers Association (Board of Directors) and Winterset Aero Club. He was a 30-year member of the Stuart Fire Department and Fire Chief during the Ben Franklin fire. His leadership and knowledge saved the adjoining buildings.

After he and Pat sold the tire service in 2004, Denny studied and tested to become an Instructor for the State of Iowa Fire Service Training Bureau. He taught trainings all around the state for several years. He was known to be ‘a great teacher and mentor and genuine and honest in his assessment and advice’. Besides family, Denny’s other joy was building his model train exhibits and traveling with Pat. One of his proudest moments of retirement was to earn his private pilot’s license, logging 320 hours of flight time and taking his friends, children and grandchildren flying. 

He leaves to celebrate his life, his wife, Pat, of 59 years; daughters, Donna (Lauren), Debi (Eric); grandsons, Brandon (Signe), Collin, Keenan (Erica) and granddaughters, Jillian and Katie, many relatives and friends. 

Service and Dennis Hohn were synonymous for 82 years; he is greatly loved by his family and friends and will be missed dearly. This world is a different place without him.