Dr. Darrel B. Hoff, 76, of Calmar, died November 2, 2009, at the Winneshiek Medical Center, Decorah. Memorial services are on Saturday, November 7, 2009, at 2 p.m. at Luther College in Valders Hall of Science, Room 206. The Cremation Society of Eastern-Central-Western Iowa Funeral and Thorson-Reetz Funeral Home in Viroqua, Wisconsin, are assisting the family.
Darrel Barton Hoff was born December 17, 1932, to Walter and Agnes Nelson Hoff in Vernon County, Wisconsin. He married Ardith Gardner on September 3, 1954, in Vernon County, Wisconsin. Darrel proudly served in the U.S. Army for two tours of duty--the first from September 8, 1955-November 21, 1957, at the end of the Korean conflict and the second from October 15, 1961-August 16, 1962 during the Berlin Crisis (at the beginning of the Viet Nam War). Darrel graduated from Viroqua High School in 1951, he received his bachelor of arts degree in chemistry from Luther College, his master's degree from the University of Northern Iowa, and his doctorate from the University of Iowa.
He taught at the University of Northern Iowa as a professor of astronomy and science education for twenty-three years; the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics for six years; and Luther College for five years. He also substitute taught at South Winneshiek Community Schools for several years. He enjoyed reading and gardening. Darrel was a member of the Northeast Iowa Unitarian Universalist Fellowship and the Calmar Community United Methodist Church. He is survived by his loving wife, Ardith; children, Andrea (Ron Haight) Hoff of Pflugerville, Texas; and Adrian Hoff of Fayette, Iowa; two grandchildren, Sean and Neil Haight; and one brother, Duane (Dana) Hoff of Viroqua, Wisconsin, and many other relatives and friends. Darrel was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Bonita Jerman; one brother, W. Parker Hoff; a niece, Sonja Jerman, and other relatives. Memorials (in lieu of flowers) may be directed to Luther College, Dollars For Scholars at South Winneshiek Schools, or any charity of your choice.
Adapted from on-line version of The Decorah Newspapers, November 16, 2009.