Theo C. Hotze Obituary (1916

Theo Charles Hotze, one of five children of Hazel Olive (Smith) and Ray Hotze, was born on his parent's farm near Carson, Iowa on February 21, 1916. He grew up in Carson helping his parents on the farm and graduated from the Carson High School in 1934. Following school, Theo continued to work with his parents on the farm. Theo and Leah Mildred Clark were married in Denison, Iowa on July 10, 1939. They made their home on the farm near Carson and were blessed with four children Randall, Kenton, Susan, and Jane. Theo enjoyed the farm and livestock, and was for many years a livestock shipper to the Omaha Stockyards in Omaha, Nebraska. Theo's love for the farm and outdoors was evident in his numerous conservation awards, his membership in the Farm Bureau, and his leadership in 4-H. Theo also enjoyed traveling and spending summers at the family's cabin at Storm Lake, Iowa. He was a member of the Coral Lodge No. 430 in Carson, a 50 Year Mason, and a member of the Botna Valley Shrine Club. Theo and Leah had been married 52 years when Leah died on April 6, 1991. Theo continued to live at his home and remained active on the farm and with his Lodge. Theo died at his home on January 3, 2005 at the age of 88 years, 10 months, and 12 days. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Leah Hotze, and brother Cleo "Bud" Hotze. He is survived by his sons Randall Hotze and his wife Carolyn of Carson, and Kenton Hotze and his wife Judy of Ft. Calhoun, NE; daughters Susan Laird and her husband Edward of North Fort Myers, FL, and Jane Wiechmann and her husband Arlyn of Sarasota, FL; ten grandchildren, six great grandchildren, and two step-grandchildren; sisters Clella Young of Council Bluffs, IA, and Neuonia Timberman of Oakland, IA and Marilyn Gray of Clarinda, IA; brother-in-law Cloyd Clark of Oakland, IA; nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.