Howard Hockel

Howard Owen Hockel was born on March 20, 1947, to Harlin and Celista (Kuehl) Hockel of Odin, Minnesota. He attended rural country school near Odin and was a 1965, graduate of Butterfield High School. On April 22, 1967, he was united in marriage to Julene Haglund of Butterfield. They made their home and farmed together in the Odin area for the past 37 years. Howard served on the Butterfield-Odin School Board, the CMA Church Governing Board, the Martin County FSA County Committee, the Odin Community Club Board, and numerous other boards. He had a passion for the land and for people. No person was a stranger to him. He was kind, generous, and hard working. Teasing and laughing with his 11 grandchildren was a joy for BaPa Howie, but his greatest joy was found in his relationship with Christ. Howard enjoyed early morning sunrises and coffee with friends in town. Favorite pastimes included snowmobiling, deer hunting, and attending local sporting events. Howard Hockel, age 57, of Odin, Minnesota, died on Friday, December 17, 2004, at Fast Distributing near Mountain Lake, Minnesota. Howard is survived by his wife, Julene Hockel of Odin, MN; four children, Wendy and her husband Dave Briggs of Lake Crystal, MN, Mark and his wife Karla Hockel of Windom, MN, Danylle Dee Dee and her husband Michael Espenson of Windom, MN, and Heidi Hockel of Orlando, FL; his mother, Celista Hockel of Mountain Lake, MN; 11 grandchildren, Drew, Alex, Tommy, Clay, Morgan Moey, Mia, Kinzie, Cody, Londyn and Meadow; a sister, Suevonne Negaard of Eagan, MN; many other relatives and friends. Howard was preceded in death by his father, Harlin Hockel; and an infant brother, Richard Hockel.