Alvin Hohbach

Alvin C. Hohbach, 92, of Idaho Falls, passed away January 13, 2024, at Lincoln Court Retirement Community. He was under the care of Symbii Hospice.

Alvin was born February 7,1931, in Plankinton, South Dakota, to Chris and Elsie Hohbach. He grew up being dedicated to their families farms and excelled at 4H with many ribbons earned raising cattle.

His family made the big move to better farm land in Washington state, and after graduating from high school, he heard the sound of bugles in the background. He entered into and served as a decorated Military Police Officer in the United States Air Force, based in good ‘ol Clarksville, Tennessee, and Fairchild Air Force Base near Spokane.

After his military service, he attended and graduated from Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. Now off to Idaho Falls, Idaho, where he became an integral part of the INL-Idaho National Laboratory Engineering Group.

On December 9, 1961, he married Pauline Hohbach and they settled in Idaho Falls. A few years later, their two daughters were born and raised on the west side. They later moved to the east side and became Idaho Falls Tigers (even though Al cheekishly sat on the blue side of Skyline for each football game). “Go Grizzlies & Tigers!” Cynthia and Julie would cheer.

Al was so good in the nuclear and engineering field, Princeton University came calling. He moved himself and family to New Jersey where he was a teacher with the Plasma Physics Laboratory on loan from the site for a few years.

Returning to Idaho Falls, his family resettled in one of Idaho Falls Historical homes on 8th Street. Work then turned to retirement and traveling with his dear wife, while Cynthia and Julie became busy with their careers. Later, Julie gifted the family with two beauties being born, Kati and Skylar, their dear granddaughters.

Al enjoyed camping, fishing, and racing his race cars on the Snake River when it froze thick enough. The entire family dedicated themselves to saving animals and providing a warm meal to those who needed one. He served as sandbag man with many when the Teton Dam broke. He served his community by volunteering when times were tough for others.

Alvin is survived by his daughter, Cynthia Hohbach of Idaho Falls, ID; granddaughters, Kati and Skylar Piper; sisters, Lucille Werre of Washington, Louise Hohbach of Washington, and Darlene Boday of Oregon.

Alvin also shared his wonderful life with extended family, including many nieces and nephews; his son-in-law, Bob Piper; friends and colleagues at INL-Idaho National Laboratory, Princeton University Plasma Physics Laboratory, Military Organizations, Holy Rosary Catholic Church, First Evangelical Lutheran Church, and was dedicated to his city and states of Idaho and Washington. His Hohbach and married family genealogy lines are dating back to a prestigious 1686, thus far.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Pauline; parents, Chris and Elsie; daughter, Julie Hohbach Piper; sister, Viola Nelson; brother, Dale Hohbach; and nephew, Allyn Boday.

The family wishes to thank Lincoln Court and Symbii Hospice for their kind care of Alvin.

The family will visit with friends from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, January 20, 2024, at Wood Funeral Home (273 N. Ridge). Military Honors will be performed by the Bonneville County Veterans Memorial Team and Air Force Honor Guard. Burial will be held at Rose Hill Cemetery (2355 Rollandet). A luncheon will take place after services at 1 p.m. at the Brickyard Event Center (1025 S. Ammon Rd.).

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to all local animal shelters in dire need of assistance and ARTI-Actors Repertoire Theater of Idaho.