Donald E. "Don" Hoff

Donald E. Hoff, M.D., of Eau Claire, passed away on Wednesday, December 26, 2018 at his residence. Don was born on December 6, 1922 to Frank and Anna (Springob) Hoff in Wichita, Kansas, the youngest of five children. Of mainly German and Swiss ancestry, he grew up with some exposure to both the German language and culture (especially food), as well as a strong Catholic heritage from a family that had included numerous nuns and other religious persons. After graduating from Cathedral High School in 1940, Don majored in Biology and Chemistry at the Municipal University of Wichita (now Wichita State University). Further study followed at the University of Kansas Medical School in Kansas City, from which he received his medical degree in 1946. Upon graduation he served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps in post-WWII Germany. While stationed in Frankfurt, Germany at an American military hospital, he was able to reconnect with distant family on both sides (maternal in Germany and paternal in Zwingen, Switzerland), and maintained contact through his life through correspondence, Hoff family trips to Europe, and reciprocal visits from Swiss relatives to the U.S. Back in the U.S., Don’s rotating medical internship took place at the State of Wisconsin General Hospital (today's University Hospital in Madison, WI), and he completed a one-year fellowship in Internal Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic before returning to Madison for his residency in Internal Medicine back at the State of Wisconsin General Hospital. Don began practicing Internal Medicine in 1953 at the Midelfort Clinic in Eau Claire. He entered medical practice at a time when physicians still made house calls, and through his life valued the contact that a personal physician made with patients while delivering care. After 29 years in group practice, Don transitioned to the role of university physician at the UW–Eau Claire Student Health Service. He retired eight years later in 1990 but continued to read on medical matters and maintain contact with former colleagues. Don married Roma Borst, whom he had met at St. Paul's University Chapel in Madison, WI, on August 16, 1958. They welcomed three children, Peter, Anne and Paul into the family. Paul and his wife Nuria (Ibarrechevea) later had three children of their own, Clara, Ana, and Alex. Don was an enthusiastic grandfather whom the grandchildren nicknamed Buelo, from the Spanish abuelo for grandfather. He was a true family man, loyal, loving, and devoted. Don was a "renaissance man." Don and Roma traveled extensively, particularly in Europe and Latin America, often with family and/or UWEC groups. At home in Eau Claire, he was an avid gardener with a summer vegetable garden each year. He was a particularly enthusiastic and adventurous cook, exploring both the recipes of his German heritage and those from countries of his travels. Willing to experiment with various world cuisines and take on complicated processes, he made his own chorizo (a Spanish sausage), sidra (Spanish hard cider), gravlax (Scandinavian cured salmon), and numerous German specialties, including hundreds of apple and plum cakes. He loved classical music, news and talk programs on Wisconsin Public Radio, and enjoyed reading when he found the time. As his sight failed in his later years, Chapter a Day on the radio and audiobooks satisfied this desire. He remained a devout Catholic and member of Newman Parish with a keen interest in theology. Don is survived by his children Peter (Paul Patenaude), Anne, and Paul (Nuria); his grandchildren Clara, Ana, and Alex; and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Roma; his parents; and his siblings, Alberta, Francis, Cornelia, and Sister Ann Frances; and nieces and nephews. The family wishes to thank his home caregivers over the years as well as the caring professionals from St. Joseph’s Home Health and Hospice. In lieu of flowers, we encourage memorial gifts to the Sacred Heart Hospital Foundation and to Wisconsin Public Radio. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 29, 2018, at Newman Parish, at the Ecumenical Religious Center, 110 Garfield Ave, Eau Claire, with Father Dan Oudenhoven presiding. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Entombment will take place in Resurrection Chapel Mausoleum, Eau Claire. Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral & Cremation Services is assisting his family. To express online condolences, please visit www.lenmarkfh.com

Service Information

Cemetery

Resurrection Chapel Mausoleum
4100 S Hastings Way
Eau Claire WI 54701

Visitation

Saturday, December 29 2018
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Newman Parish at the Ecumenical Religious Center
110 Garfield Avenue
Eau Claire WI 54701

Mass

Saturday, December 29 2018
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Newman Parish at the Ecumenical Religious Center
110 Garfield Avenue
Eau Claire WI 54701