Walter Patrick Westhoff

Walter Patrick Westhoff, 85, of Manchester, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, June 15, 2017, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.  He was born near Hopkinton, on July 26, 1931, the son of Aloysius and Henrietta (Naber) Westhoff.  Walter attended school in Farley and Greeley and worked on the family farm. In 1952, he joined the U.S. Army.  He served honorably in the 45th Infantry Division during the Korean War, and fought at Heartbreak Ridge and Christmas Hill.

On August 8, 1956, Walter was united in marriage to Janet Koch at Saints Peter and Paul church in Petersburg, Iowa. Eight children were born to this union.  He first farmed near Buck Creek and milked cows and raised hogs on a farm near Greeley from 1964 until 1996.  Walter loved the farm, and after retirement, he enjoyed fishing, restoring antique tractors and other farm machinery, woodworking, and landscaping. He was an avid reader.

Walter is survived by his wife of 60 years, Janet Westhoff of Manchester; seven of their children, Pat (Elena) Westhoff of Columbia, Missouri, Judi (Norbert) Kaut of Des Moines, Randy (Taunya) Westhoff of Alexander, Marty (Lauri) Westhoff of Earlville, Cathy Westhoff of Manchester, Tami (Gary) Jones of Waterloo, and Jon (Janie) Westhoff of Waterloo; son-in-law, Mike (Kari) Yauk of Fayette; 21 grandchildren; his brothers, Floyd (Betty) Westhoff of Guttenberg and Mark (Joyce) Westhoff of Petersburg; sisters, Grace (Roger) Hermsen of Manchester, Del (Ed) McFadden of Reedsburg, Wisconsin, Mary (Richard) Bixby of Marion, and Carol (Bill) Noble of Kona, Hawaii; brothers-in-law, Jerry (Jeanine) Koch of Dyersville, Steve (Kathy) Koch of Worthington, and Kenny (Diane) Koch of Petersburg; sister-in-law, Carol (Jim) Cole of Ryan; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Trisha Yauk; Janet’s parents, Lawrence and Julanda Koch; and brother-in-law Bob Koch.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. Mary Catholic Church or the Good Neighbor Home.

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