Wendell Hoag, 81, Tucson, died 25 June 2013, at his home from complications related to Parkinson's disease.
He was born on Dec. 3, 1931 (with the name of Forrest Wendell Hogg) to Vergil C. and Irene Kolp Hogg in Bonesteel, S. Dakota. He grew up in Stanfield, Ore., served in the Navy for 2 years, and graduated in 1958 from Eastern Oregon University with a B.S. in Secondary Education/Biology. He changed his legal name to Wendell Hoag sometime between August 1958 and August 1959.
He married Mary Ann Nelson in 1953 in Hermiston, Ore. and had two children with her (divorced 1958). He married Jane Coffman in 1959 in Athena, Ore. and raised three children in Seattle (divorced 1987). Wendell was an underwriter for Safeco Insurance Co., in Seattle for 25 years and retired in 1988 to travel North America, Europe, and Australia by motor home. He married Lucy Gitatha in 1995 in Denmark, and, after a few years of travel, settled in Tucson.
Wendell enjoyed birding, identifying and observing everything in nature (plants, reptiles, amphibians, mammals and butterflies), hiking, camping, bicycling, astronomy, and organizing vacations to national parks and historic areas. One of his more quirky aspects was his skull collection. He'd pick up small dead animals along the road (he lacked a refined sense of smell!), throw them in a bag in the luggage area on top of the VW camper van, and then bury them in the backyard compost heap. The final cleanup would be done by dermestid beetles, and he'd be left with a nice clean skull. His skull collection was donated to the University of Arizona mammalogy department for teaching uses.
During his years in Tucson, he worked as a volunteer at Tucson Audubon Society and for the political campaigns of Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D).
He donated his family histories, letters, diaries, and photos to the University of Washington archives. He was a member of the Mountaineers, climbing the major peaks of Washington and Mt. Kilimanjaro. He was an active member of the Audubon Society in Seattle (President in 1974-75), Tucson, and Denver, and served on the Mountaineers board. His enjoyed tennis, racquetball, handball, pickleball, and badminton and participated in the Senior Olympics in Tucson. He had an inquiring mind and enjoyed teaching others about nature, vigorous political discussions, and helping fellow residents at his mobile home park.
Wendell is survived by his wife []; mother-in-law []; children, Earlene Mokler (Richland, Wash.), Aaron Finn (Salem, Ore.), Samara Hoag (Jeanne Dorn) of Seattle, Corolla Hoag (Kevin Horstman) of Tucson, Calyx Hoag (Barbara) of Bellingham, Wash.); siblings Elaine Porter (Roseburg, Ore.), James V. Hogg (Tacoma, Wash.), and Glenn Hogg (Concord, Calif.); grandchildren, Sol Mokler; Ann, April, and Sage Hoag, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother-in-law William Porter, and sister-in-law, Kay Hogg.
Wendell's body was donated for Parkinson's research. A memorial celebration will be held August 24; his ashes will be scattered at a favorite birding locale. Donations in his name may be made to the Audubon Society, Nature Conservancy, or to a charity of your choice.
Arrangements by Adair Avalon Chapel, Tucson.
Bio written by C. Hoag
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Obituaries were published in The Arizona Daily Star, East Oregonian, and The Seattle Times in June 2013.
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Tribute played at his memorial service, Westward Look Resort, Tucson, 24 August 2016 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJHcGK2E8oU&t=155s
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Wendell served in the U.S. Navy from July 1950 through May 1954.
He was born on Dec. 3, 1931 (with the name of Forrest Wendell Hogg) to Vergil C. and Irene Kolp Hogg in Bonesteel, S. Dakota. He grew up in Stanfield, Ore., served in the Navy for 2 years, and graduated in 1958 from Eastern Oregon University with a B.S. in Secondary Education/Biology. He changed his legal name to Wendell Hoag sometime between August 1958 and August 1959.
He married Mary Ann Nelson in 1953 in Hermiston, Ore. and had two children with her (divorced 1958). He married Jane Coffman in 1959 in Athena, Ore. and raised three children in Seattle (divorced 1987). Wendell was an underwriter for Safeco Insurance Co., in Seattle for 25 years and retired in 1988 to travel North America, Europe, and Australia by motor home. He married Lucy Gitatha in 1995 in Denmark, and, after a few years of travel, settled in Tucson.
Wendell enjoyed birding, identifying and observing everything in nature (plants, reptiles, amphibians, mammals and butterflies), hiking, camping, bicycling, astronomy, and organizing vacations to national parks and historic areas. One of his more quirky aspects was his skull collection. He'd pick up small dead animals along the road (he lacked a refined sense of smell!), throw them in a bag in the luggage area on top of the VW camper van, and then bury them in the backyard compost heap. The final cleanup would be done by dermestid beetles, and he'd be left with a nice clean skull. His skull collection was donated to the University of Arizona mammalogy department for teaching uses.
During his years in Tucson, he worked as a volunteer at Tucson Audubon Society and for the political campaigns of Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D).
He donated his family histories, letters, diaries, and photos to the University of Washington archives. He was a member of the Mountaineers, climbing the major peaks of Washington and Mt. Kilimanjaro. He was an active member of the Audubon Society in Seattle (President in 1974-75), Tucson, and Denver, and served on the Mountaineers board. His enjoyed tennis, racquetball, handball, pickleball, and badminton and participated in the Senior Olympics in Tucson. He had an inquiring mind and enjoyed teaching others about nature, vigorous political discussions, and helping fellow residents at his mobile home park.
Wendell is survived by his wife []; mother-in-law []; children, Earlene Mokler (Richland, Wash.), Aaron Finn (Salem, Ore.), Samara Hoag (Jeanne Dorn) of Seattle, Corolla Hoag (Kevin Horstman) of Tucson, Calyx Hoag (Barbara) of Bellingham, Wash.); siblings Elaine Porter (Roseburg, Ore.), James V. Hogg (Tacoma, Wash.), and Glenn Hogg (Concord, Calif.); grandchildren, Sol Mokler; Ann, April, and Sage Hoag, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother-in-law William Porter, and sister-in-law, Kay Hogg.
Wendell's body was donated for Parkinson's research. A memorial celebration will be held August 24; his ashes will be scattered at a favorite birding locale. Donations in his name may be made to the Audubon Society, Nature Conservancy, or to a charity of your choice.
Arrangements by Adair Avalon Chapel, Tucson.
Bio written by C. Hoag
∼
Obituaries were published in The Arizona Daily Star, East Oregonian, and The Seattle Times in June 2013.
∼
Tribute played at his memorial service, Westward Look Resort, Tucson, 24 August 2016 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJHcGK2E8oU&t=155s
∼
Wendell served in the U.S. Navy from July 1950 through May 1954.
Wendell Hoag, 81, Tucson, died 25 June 2013, at his home from complications related to Parkinson's disease.
He was born on Dec. 3, 1931 (with the name of Forrest Wendell Hogg) to Vergil C. and Irene Kolp Hogg in Bonesteel, S. Dakota. He grew up in Stanfield, Ore., served in the Navy for 2 years, and graduated in 1958 from Eastern Oregon University with a B.S. in Secondary Education/Biology. He changed his legal name to Wendell Hoag sometime between August 1958 and August 1959.
He married Mary Ann Nelson in 1953 in Hermiston, Ore. and had two children with her (divorced 1958). He married Jane Coffman in 1959 in Athena, Ore. and raised three children in Seattle (divorced 1987). Wendell was an underwriter for Safeco Insurance Co., in Seattle for 25 years and retired in 1988 to travel North America, Europe, and Australia by motor home. He married Lucy Gitatha in 1995 in Denmark, and, after a few years of travel, settled in Tucson.
Wendell enjoyed birding, identifying and observing everything in nature (plants, reptiles, amphibians, mammals and butterflies), hiking, camping, bicycling, astronomy, and organizing vacations to national parks and historic areas. One of his more quirky aspects was his skull collection. He'd pick up small dead animals along the road (he lacked a refined sense of smell!), throw them in a bag in the luggage area on top of the VW camper van, and then bury them in the backyard compost heap. The final cleanup would be done by dermestid beetles, and he'd be left with a nice clean skull. His skull collection was donated to the University of Arizona mammalogy department for teaching uses.
During his years in Tucson, he worked as a volunteer at Tucson Audubon Society and for the political campaigns of Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D).
He donated his family histories, letters, diaries, and photos to the University of Washington archives. He was a member of the Mountaineers, climbing the major peaks of Washington and Mt. Kilimanjaro. He was an active member of the Audubon Society in Seattle (President in 1974-75), Tucson, and Denver, and served on the Mountaineers board. His enjoyed tennis, racquetball, handball, pickleball, and badminton and participated in the Senior Olympics in Tucson. He had an inquiring mind and enjoyed teaching others about nature, vigorous political discussions, and helping fellow residents at his mobile home park.
Wendell is survived by his wife []; mother-in-law []; children, Earlene Mokler (Richland, Wash.), Aaron Finn (Salem, Ore.), Samara Hoag (Jeanne Dorn) of Seattle, Corolla Hoag (Kevin Horstman) of Tucson, Calyx Hoag (Barbara) of Bellingham, Wash.); siblings Elaine Porter (Roseburg, Ore.), James V. Hogg (Tacoma, Wash.), and Glenn Hogg (Concord, Calif.); grandchildren, Sol Mokler; Ann, April, and Sage Hoag, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother-in-law William Porter, and sister-in-law, Kay Hogg.
Wendell's body was donated for Parkinson's research. A memorial celebration will be held August 24; his ashes will be scattered at a favorite birding locale. Donations in his name may be made to the Audubon Society, Nature Conservancy, or to a charity of your choice.
Arrangements by Adair Avalon Chapel, Tucson.
Bio written by C. Hoag
∼
Obituaries were published in The Arizona Daily Star, East Oregonian, and The Seattle Times in June 2013.
∼
Tribute played at his memorial service, Westward Look Resort, Tucson, 24 August 2016 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJHcGK2E8oU&t=155s
∼
Wendell served in the U.S. Navy from July 1950 through May 1954.
He was born on Dec. 3, 1931 (with the name of Forrest Wendell Hogg) to Vergil C. and Irene Kolp Hogg in Bonesteel, S. Dakota. He grew up in Stanfield, Ore., served in the Navy for 2 years, and graduated in 1958 from Eastern Oregon University with a B.S. in Secondary Education/Biology. He changed his legal name to Wendell Hoag sometime between August 1958 and August 1959.
He married Mary Ann Nelson in 1953 in Hermiston, Ore. and had two children with her (divorced 1958). He married Jane Coffman in 1959 in Athena, Ore. and raised three children in Seattle (divorced 1987). Wendell was an underwriter for Safeco Insurance Co., in Seattle for 25 years and retired in 1988 to travel North America, Europe, and Australia by motor home. He married Lucy Gitatha in 1995 in Denmark, and, after a few years of travel, settled in Tucson.
Wendell enjoyed birding, identifying and observing everything in nature (plants, reptiles, amphibians, mammals and butterflies), hiking, camping, bicycling, astronomy, and organizing vacations to national parks and historic areas. One of his more quirky aspects was his skull collection. He'd pick up small dead animals along the road (he lacked a refined sense of smell!), throw them in a bag in the luggage area on top of the VW camper van, and then bury them in the backyard compost heap. The final cleanup would be done by dermestid beetles, and he'd be left with a nice clean skull. His skull collection was donated to the University of Arizona mammalogy department for teaching uses.
During his years in Tucson, he worked as a volunteer at Tucson Audubon Society and for the political campaigns of Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D).
He donated his family histories, letters, diaries, and photos to the University of Washington archives. He was a member of the Mountaineers, climbing the major peaks of Washington and Mt. Kilimanjaro. He was an active member of the Audubon Society in Seattle (President in 1974-75), Tucson, and Denver, and served on the Mountaineers board. His enjoyed tennis, racquetball, handball, pickleball, and badminton and participated in the Senior Olympics in Tucson. He had an inquiring mind and enjoyed teaching others about nature, vigorous political discussions, and helping fellow residents at his mobile home park.
Wendell is survived by his wife []; mother-in-law []; children, Earlene Mokler (Richland, Wash.), Aaron Finn (Salem, Ore.), Samara Hoag (Jeanne Dorn) of Seattle, Corolla Hoag (Kevin Horstman) of Tucson, Calyx Hoag (Barbara) of Bellingham, Wash.); siblings Elaine Porter (Roseburg, Ore.), James V. Hogg (Tacoma, Wash.), and Glenn Hogg (Concord, Calif.); grandchildren, Sol Mokler; Ann, April, and Sage Hoag, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother-in-law William Porter, and sister-in-law, Kay Hogg.
Wendell's body was donated for Parkinson's research. A memorial celebration will be held August 24; his ashes will be scattered at a favorite birding locale. Donations in his name may be made to the Audubon Society, Nature Conservancy, or to a charity of your choice.
Arrangements by Adair Avalon Chapel, Tucson.
Bio written by C. Hoag
∼
Obituaries were published in The Arizona Daily Star, East Oregonian, and The Seattle Times in June 2013.
∼
Tribute played at his memorial service, Westward Look Resort, Tucson, 24 August 2016 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJHcGK2E8oU&t=155s
∼
Wendell served in the U.S. Navy from July 1950 through May 1954.
