Curtis Maynard Hochreiter

Curt Skydiving one month before his 88th birthday

And be sure to check out his photo album down below!

Curt Hochreiter, 90, of Cedar Falls, passed away at UPH/Allen Hospital of Waterloo on Sunday, January 5, 2025 — surrounded by family. He was born in Albert Lea, MN, on August 14, 1934, son of Fred and Bernice (Johnson) Hochreiter. Curt graduated from high school in Kiester, MN, with the Class of 1953. He studied machinist and advanced machinist coursework at Hawkeye Tech. He married Bonnie Buendorf on June 21, 1956, and they had four daughters together, later divorcing. Curt worked for John Deere Tractor Works in Waterloo for 40 years, retiring in 1994. He was a proud Union Worker at UAW Local 838 where he was a Union Steward and served on the election and recreation committees.

Curt married Lana (Jacobsen) Huebner on October 19, 1991, at Nazareth Lutheran Church. Curt was an avid volunteer at Nazareth, Allen Hospital, Cedar Valley Trail Patrol, in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, and with Cedar Valley Cyclists to name a few organizations. He and Lana together received the Iowa Governor's Award for Volunteers in 2023.

Curt was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters, Eleanor Whisenhunt and Marlys Reed; a grandson; and three granddaughters. He was a devoted husband of 33 years to Lana; loving father to daughters: Terri (Dean) Snell of California, Kimberly (Mike) Miller of Missouri, Wendy (Roberta) Hochreiter of Illinois, and Bobbi Jo (Erik) Renkel of West Des Moines, and step-children: Greg (Irene), Dan (Lori), Suzie (John), Darrell (Julie), Jane (Anthony), Carla, and Kim (Tim); adored grandfather and great-grandfather to many; and sweet uncle to many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

Curt's Memorial Service will be at 11:00 am on Thursday, January 9, 2025, at Nazareth Lutheran Church with Visitation the evening prior from 4:00-6:00 pm at Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home. Burial will take place at Finchford Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Alzheimer's Association, American Heart Association, or American Cancer Society.

Curt was filled to the brim with life and was up for any adventure. He pedaled through hundreds of miles (with Lana) on a number of RAGBRAI rides as well as other organized rides — one taking them along the Mississippi River and through several states and another that had them riding down the side of a volcano! Just two short years ago, Curt crossed skydiving off his bucket list. He would ride any amusement park ride and loved to do so with his grandkids while some more grounded family members held the bags and waited on the sidewalk. He especially loved the Space Shot at Adventureland.

Curt was also filled to the brim with light. Even in the last challenging days in the hospital, he had an ample supply of sweet smiles for the nurses who woke him from naps and every visitor who walked in the room. That smile of his might have been his greatest asset. Please ask Lana the story of their meeting if you get a chance. It must have been the smile that won her over, because it certainly wasn't the perm.

Curt will be remembered for always wearing the best socks (and sometimes a bolo tie), being fiercely loyal to the Minnesota Vikings, and loving to farm—but only with John Deere tractors. Curt also loved camping, being kind and friendly, and his family. He will be greatly missed.