Neil S Hohisel

Neil S. Hohisel Wenatchee, WA Neil S. Hohisel, 74, a resident of Wenatchee for the past 30 years, passed away on Tuesday, May 18, 2010, at Central Washington Hospital, after a struggle with pulmonary fibrosis. His wife and all his children were at his side. He was born March 8, 1936, in Detroit, MI to Roland E. and M. Arlene (Fraser) Hohisel. He received his education there, graduating from Mumford High School in June of 1954. He attended Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI. He was married on September 8, 1956, to Arlene R. Hodge of Detroit in Westminster Presbyterian Church. After earning a degree in Forestry in June of 1959, Neil and his wife moved to Kamiah, ID with their infant daughter, Ann. In 1961, son, Dale, was born and in 1964, son, Gary, was born to the family, both in Orofino, ID. Subsequent moves in his U.S.D.A. Forest Service career took the family to Dillon and Kalispell, MT; to Sandpoint, ID; and to Wenatchee in 1979. Assignments before Neil’s retirement included development of recreation input for the Wenatchee National Forest Land Management Plan. He retired from the Forest Service in 1993, and continued to serve as Logistics Chief for a unified command fire overhead team during forest fire seasons. He spent weeks at the Yellowstone Park fire of 1988, and on the Tyee Fire in 1994. In later years, he administered firefighters’ tests and he spent time setting up work camps after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. For over a decade, Neil and his wife served as Hosts for the Forest Service at the Lochsa Historical Ranger Station in Idaho, the district where he began his career 50 years ago. He was a former member of the Jaycees, active in band and music parents’ organizations and worked with the Cub Scouts. He was a volunteer with the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, worked in the archives of the Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center for many years, and helped with the Wenatchee Valley Riverfront Railroad. His interests included trains, aviation, astronomy, stamp collecting, history and hiking. He was an old-time piano player, sometimes joining his father, Roland, who played banjo, to entertain at various events. His entire family enjoyed square dancing for many years and he and his wife danced and traveled with several Wenatchee square dance clubs. Retirement years have been filled with travel, volunteering and visiting with his grandchildren. Neil and his wife celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary in 2006, at a family event in Leavenworth, planned by their children. Survivors include his wife, Arlene, of the family home; daughter, Ann Arlene Hohisel of Littleton, CO and her spouse, Steven Sawyer; son, Dale Roger Hohisel and his spouse, Laurie of Kent, WA; and son, Gary Andrew Hohisel and his spouse, Kimberly of Tacoma, WA. A brother, Lee Hohisel and sister, Laura Knight, both of Naples, FL also survive Neil. Neil was Grandpa to Matthew, Jacob, Lake and Pepper Ann Hohisel; and step-grandchildren, Zoe and Ezekiel Westbrooke. Other special relatives are his cousin, Frank Jay Cameron of Sequim, WA and brother-in-law, Kevin Hodge of Howell, MI. A Memorial Service will be held at 5:0020 p.m. on Saturday, May 22, 2010, at the Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center, 127 S. Mission Street, with any friends welcome. In lieu of flowers, donations to PulmonaryFibrosis.org would help others with this disease and honor Neil’s giving nature. Arrangements are by Jones & Jones~Betts Funeral Home of Wenatchee, where you may express your memories of Neil at jonesjonesbetts.com

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Neil S Hohisel

March 8, 1936 - May 18, 2010