Jack W. Hotchkiss

Jack W. Hotchkiss, 93, of Fergus Falls, died Wednesday, April 20, 2016, at the Minnesota Veteran’s Home in Fergus Falls.

Jack was born June 12, 1922, son of Robert and Elaine (Maloney) Hotchkiss, on a farm in Buse Township south of Fergus Falls, MN. He attended country school at District 31, now Buse Township Hall, through the fifth grade. In 1934 the family moved into Fergus Falls.

While finishing grade school, he started a Fergus Journal paper route and went on to work in the mailing department on Saturdays and during Junior High School. He later worked Saturdays and summer months in the press room until graduation in 1941. He continued working at the Journal until joining the U.S. Navy in October of 1942.

While in the Navy, he trained at Great Lakes, IL, Aviation Machinist School and Glenview Naval Air Base. He worked on fighter planes, torpedo bombers and dive bombers at Wild Wood, NJ, Quonset Point, RI and Virginia Beach, VA Naval Air Station.

After completing his Navy service, he returned to the Fergus Journal for 40 more years, retiring as a compositor and operating the camera for photo composition.

In 1989, Jack began his venture into Hotchkiss Genealogy, dating back to Great Britain of the 1500's. Many Hotchkiss immigrants settled in the State of New York and as the families grew they spread throughout the country.

Jack married Laura Neutzling at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Alexandria, MN, on April 3, 1948. Laura passed away on July 17, 2012. Jack was a member of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Fergus Falls, a lifetime member of the American Legion Post 30, a member of the Elks Club and Eagles Club and the Pebble Lake Golf Club for 49 years. Jack bowled league for 61 years and he and Laura served as league secretaries for 45 years. Jack and Laura were elected to the Fergus Falls Bowling Hall of Fame and managed the BPOE Bowling Tournaments for a number of years.

Preceeding him in death were his wife, Laura; his parents; his sisters and brothers-in-law, Dorothy and Del Porter and Betty and Warren Sagerhorn; his brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Doris Hotchkiss; in-laws, Leo and Frances (Lieser) Neutzling; brothers and sisters-in-law, William and Eulalia Stein and Aloys and Alverna Neis; and brothers-in-law Alvin Neutzling, Howard Blaske and Roy Brede.

Survivors include his daughter, Pam (Howard) Dean of Eagan, MN; his son, Harley Hotchkiss of Phoenix, AZ; a grandson, Joe (Kelie) Hotchkiss and a great-grandson, Mason, of New River, AZ; sisters-in-law, Leonora Brede and Clarice Neutzling; and many nieces, nephews and their families, and many friends.

Visitation: 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM on Saturday, April 30, 2016, at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Fergus Falls
Service: 11:00 AM on Saturday, April 30, 2016, at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Fergus Falls
Clergy: Father Alan Wielinski
Interment: St. Otto’s Catholic Cemetery in Fergus Falls
Military Participation: Fergus Falls American Legion Post #30 and VFW Post #612
Funeral Home: Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls